AFCON 2027 (Q): Nigeria and Ghana humiliated, tops and flops of the 2nd matchday
The second matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers left bitter memories for supporters of Ghana and Nigeria, who were soundly beaten by Gambia (2-4) and Guinea-Bissau (3-0), while Patrick Vieira’s Senegal got back on track with a first victory (1-0 against Ethiopia) in these qualifiers.
Aimé ATTI · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Synthetic English voice · 3 min 09 s
A second complicated matchday for the big teams
In Accra, Ghana’s Black Stars were expected to bring a smile back to their supporters after having lost the derby to Côte d’Ivoire (2-0) in Bouaké last week. But it was not to be. Carlos Queiroz’s men were caught cold by some very sharp Scorpions from Gambia, who claimed a prestigious away victory (4-2) to make it 6/6 after two matchdays.
Ghana is last in Group C with zero points and a goal difference (-4) that could already jeopardize their qualification for the next CAN, knowing that the Black Stars were already absent in Morocco.
Nigeria also disappointed on this second matchday. After a hard-fought 2-1 win against Madagascar, the Super Eagles totally collapsed Tuesday night against Guinea-Bissau. A crushing 3-0 defeat for Eric Chelle and his men, who fall to 2nd place in Group L.
See also: CAN 2027 (Q): the trap experienced by Liberia in Rwanda
The other disappointment of this second matchday is named Algeria. The Fennecs struggled against Burundi, who quickly took a 2-0 lead within the first fifteen minutes. Though Belloumi and Adil Boulbina helped Brahim Hemdani’s men snatch a draw (2-2), it was much more a score to save face than a convincing result for Algeria, who benefited from Togo’s defeat (2-0 in Zambia) to hold onto top spot in Group I.
Egypt and Mozambique dominate
After a home draw against Angola (0-0), Egypt – even without Mohamed Salah – bounced back in style in Juba against South Sudan (5-0), with doubles from Hamza Abdelkarim and Omar Marmoush.
The other Sudan also suffered against Mozambique, who defeated them 4-1, again with a double from Chamito Alfandega. Gambia, who stunned Ghana (4-2), and Guinea-Bissau, who humiliated Nigeria (3-0), also impressed and are among the Tops for this 2nd matchday.
All the results of the 2nd matchday
Central African Republic 0-1 Burkina Faso
Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Sierra Leone
Zimbabwe 1-2 DR Congo
Tunisia 2-2 Botswana
Comoros 1-0 Namibia
Lesotho 0-2 Morocco
South Sudan 0-5 Egypt
Burundi 2-2 Algeria
Mozambique 4-1 Sudan
Ethiopia 0-1 Senegal
Madagascar 1-1 Tanzania
Ghana 2-4 Gambia
Uganda 1-0 Libya
Zambia 2-0 Togo
Cape Verde 1-2 Rwanda
Guinea-Bissau 3-0 Nigeria
Gabon 2-0 Niger
Somalia 0-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Benin 2-1 Mauritania
Congo 1-1 Cameroon
Liberia 0-1 Mali