Matchdays 3 and 4 of AFCON 2027 qualifying are played from Thursday 12 to Tuesday 17 November 2026. Nigeria v Tanzania is on Friday 13 November at 19:00 EAT in Uyo, and Tanzania v Nigeria on Tuesday 17 November at 16:00 EAT in Dar es Salaam. South Africa v Kenya is on Friday 13 November at 19:00 EAT, and Kenya v South Africa on Tuesday 17 November at 19:00 EAT. Uganda v Botswana is on Saturday 14 November at 19:00 EAT.
After two matchdays, eight teams have a perfect six points. In this window every team plays the same opponent twice, home and away, in about five days. By Tuesday 17 November, after four of the six games, most groups will have clear leaders. All kick-off times below are in East Africa Time (EAT), from CAF’s official schedule. See the latest positions on our AFCON 2027 qualifiers table.
The big games to watch
Nigeria v Tanzania (Group L)
The tie East Africa has been waiting for. Nigeria host the first game on Friday 13 November at 19:00 EAT at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo. Tanzania host the return game on Tuesday 17 November at 16:00 EAT in Dar es Salaam.
Why it matters: Tanzania are already qualified for AFCON 2027 as co-hosts, so they don’t need points to reach the Finals. Their results still count for everyone else in Group L, though. Nigeria are fighting Guinea-Bissau for the group’s only other place. Guinea-Bissau have 6 points and Nigeria have 3 after losing 3–0 in Bissau, so dropped points against Tanzania could end Nigeria’s chances. For the Taifa Stars, still looking for their first win, it’s two tough tests seven months before a home AFCON. Read our Nigeria v Tanzania preview.
South Africa v Kenya (Group D)
Bafana Bafana lead Group D with 6 points and a +6 goal difference. Co-hosts Kenya have 1 point. South Africa host the first game on Friday 13 November at 19:00 EAT at Orlando Stadium, Soweto, and Kenya host the return on Tuesday 17 November at 19:00 EAT at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi. Two wins would put South Africa on 12 points, close to the group’s only non-host place. Read our South Africa v Kenya preview.
Côte d’Ivoire v The Gambia (Group C)
The Group C leaders, both on 6 points, meet in Bouaké on Thursday 12 November at 22:00 EAT and in Bakau on Tuesday 17 November at 19:00 EAT. Whoever wins this double-header will be the clear favourite for first place.
Mali v Rwanda (Group K)
Two perfect teams, both on 6 points. The first game is in Bamako on Friday 13 November at 22:00 EAT, and the return in Kigali on Tuesday 17 November at 22:00 EAT.
Ghana v Somalia (Group C)
Ghana are bottom of Group C with no points after two games. They play Somalia on Thursday 12 November at 18:00 EAT and Monday 16 November at 18:00 EAT. Anything less than two wins would leave the Black Stars with very little chance.
Host nations’ games (EAT)
- Fri 13 Nov, 19:00: 🇳🇬 Nigeria v Tanzania 🇹🇿 (Uyo)
- Fri 13 Nov, 19:00: 🇿🇦 South Africa v Kenya 🇰🇪 (Orlando Stadium, Soweto)
- Sat 14 Nov, 19:00: 🇺🇬 Uganda v Botswana 🇧🇼 (Hoima)
- Tue 17 Nov, 16:00: 🇹🇿 Tanzania v Nigeria 🇳🇬 (Dar es Salaam)
- Tue 17 Nov, 19:00: 🇰🇪 Kenya v South Africa 🇿🇦 (Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi)
- Tue 17 Nov, 22:00: 🇧🇼 Botswana v Uganda 🇺🇬
Matchday 3
Thursday 12 November 2026
- 18:00: Ghana v Somalia (Group C)
- 19:00: Guinea v Eritrea (Group D)
- 19:00: DR Congo v Sierra Leone (Group E)
- 19:00: Equatorial Guinea v Zimbabwe (Group E)
- 19:00: Madagascar v Guinea-Bissau (Group L)
- 22:00: Côte d’Ivoire v The Gambia (Group C, Bouaké)
- 22:00: Benin v Central African Rep. (Group F)
- 22:00: Cameroon v Namibia (Group G)
- 22:00: Senegal v Sudan (Group J)
Friday 13 November 2026
- 16:00: Comoros v Congo (Group G)
- 16:00: Zambia v Burundi (Group I, Lusaka)
- 16:00: Mozambique v Ethiopia (Group J)
- 19:00: Gabon v Lesotho (Group A)
- 19:00: South Africa v Kenya (Group D, Orlando Stadium, Soweto)
- 19:00: Burkina Faso v Mauritania (Group F)
- 19:00: Tunisia v Libya (Group H)
- 19:00: Cape Verde v Liberia (Group K)
- 19:00: Nigeria v Tanzania (Group L, Uyo)
- 22:00: Egypt v Malawi (Group B)
- 22:00: Mali v Rwanda (Group K, Bamako)
- 23:00: Morocco v Niger (Group A)
Saturday 14 November 2026
- 19:00: Uganda v Botswana (Group H, Hoima)
- 22:00: Angola v South Sudan (Group B)
- 22:00: Algeria v Togo (Group I)
Matchday 4
Monday 16 November 2026
- 16:00: Zimbabwe v Equatorial Guinea (Group E)
- 16:00: Namibia v Cameroon (Group G)
- 16:00: Sudan v Senegal (Group J)
- 18:00: Somalia v Ghana (Group C)
- 19:00: Eritrea v Guinea (Group D)
- 19:00: Central African Rep. v Benin (Group F)
Tuesday 17 November 2026
- 16:00: Lesotho v Gabon (Group A)
- 16:00: Malawi v Egypt (Group B)
- 16:00: South Sudan v Angola (Group B)
- 16:00: Burundi v Zambia (Group I)
- 16:00: Ethiopia v Mozambique (Group J)
- 16:00: Tanzania v Nigeria (Group L, Dar es Salaam)
- 19:00: The Gambia v Côte d’Ivoire (Group C, Bakau)
- 19:00: Kenya v South Africa (Group D, Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi)
- 19:00: Sierra Leone v DR Congo (Group E)
- 19:00: Libya v Tunisia (Group H)
- 19:00: Togo v Algeria (Group I)
- 19:00: Guinea-Bissau v Madagascar (Group L)
- 22:00: Mauritania v Burkina Faso (Group F)
- 22:00: Congo v Comoros (Group G)
- 22:00: Botswana v Uganda (Group H)
- 22:00: Rwanda v Mali (Group K, Kigali)
- 22:00: Liberia v Cape Verde (Group K)
- 23:00: Niger v Morocco (Group A)
Other time zones: UK, subtract 3 hours. South Africa, subtract 1 hour. Nigeria, subtract 2 hours.
What’s at stake in each group
- Group A: Morocco (6 pts) can almost seal first place with two wins over Niger (3).
- Group B: Egypt and Angola both have 4 points. Malawi (3) face Egypt twice.
- Group C: Côte d’Ivoire v The Gambia decides who leads. Ghana (0) must beat Somalia twice.
- Group D: South Africa (6) v co-hosts Kenya. Guinea (3) face Eritrea twice and could close the gap.
- Group E: DR Congo (6) play bottom side Sierra Leone. Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea (3 each) meet in a battle for second.
- Group F: Benin and Burkina Faso both have 4 points, with Mauritania one behind. It’s the tightest group.
- Group G: Cameroon (4) v Namibia (3), and Comoros (3) v Congo (1).
- Group H: Co-hosts Uganda (4) play Botswana (2), the best-placed non-host. Tunisia (2) and Libya (1) meet in a game neither can afford to lose.
- Group I: Algeria (4) v Togo (3), and Zambia (3) v Burundi (1).
- Group J: Mozambique and Senegal both have 4 points. Senegal face Sudan (3), and Mozambique face Ethiopia (0).
- Group K: Mali v Rwanda, both on 6 points.
- Group L: Guinea-Bissau (6) play Madagascar (1), and Nigeria (3) play co-hosts Tanzania (1).
Frequently asked questions
When are AFCON 2027 qualifiers Matchday 3 and 4?
From Thursday 12 to Tuesday 17 November 2026. The final Matchdays 5 and 6 are on 22–30 March 2027.
When do Nigeria play Tanzania?
Nigeria host Tanzania on Friday 13 November 2026 at 19:00 EAT in Uyo. Tanzania host Nigeria on Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 16:00 EAT in Dar es Salaam.
When do South Africa play Kenya?
South Africa host Kenya on Friday 13 November 2026 at 19:00 EAT at Orlando Stadium, Soweto. Kenya host South Africa on Tuesday 17 November 2026 at 19:00 EAT at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.
What time do the Matchday 3 and 4 games kick off?
Kick-offs range from 16:00 to 23:00 EAT. Every kick-off time is listed above in East Africa Time, from CAF’s official schedule.
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