🚨 CAF Official — Key Confirmed Facts (21 September 2026)
- Kick-off: Thursday 24 September 2026
- MD1 window: 24-26 September (24 matches across 12 groups)
- Complete cycle: MD1-2 (24 Sept-6 Oct) · MD3-4 (9-17 Nov) · MD5-6 (22-30 Mar 2027)
- Nations competing: 48
- Final tournament: 24 teams, 19 June – 17 July 2027, in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda
- Historic: Return of AFCON to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia 1976
- Marquee opener: Côte d’Ivoire v Ghana in Bouaké, 19:00 GMT Thursday
Summary: The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the complete Matchday 1 schedule for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers, which kick off Thursday 24 September 2026 with 48 African nations competing across 12 groups. Four national teams will make their competitive debuts under new head coaches: Hervé Renard returns to Côte d’Ivoire, Mohamed Ouahbi begins his era at Morocco, Sébastien Migné takes charge of Gabon, and Pitso Mosimane returns for a third spell as South Africa coach. Nigeria confirm star striker Victor Osimhen will miss the opening two matchdays after being ruled out with a muscle injury. Co-hosts Tanzania begin their competitive AFCON 2027 preparation against Guinea-Bissau at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium at 13:00 GMT on Friday 25 September. This article covers the CAF-confirmed complete fixture schedule, the coaching changes making news, and everything fans need to know.
The wait is nearly over. On Thursday 24 September 2026 at 13:00 GMT, Namibia and Congo will kick off the first match of the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifying campaign — beginning a 6-matchday journey that culminates in 24 nations lifting AFCON trophies in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. CAF officially confirmed the complete Matchday 1 schedule on Monday 21 September, and the news comes with several major storylines. This article covers the coaching changes, injury updates, complete fixture list, and what to watch.
🎙️ 4 New Coaches Making Competitive Debuts
🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire — Hervé Renard Returns
The Frenchman known as one of Africa’s most successful coaches returns to Côte d’Ivoire for a fresh cycle after previously leading Zambia to the 2012 AFCON title. Renard has named eight newcomers in his provisional squad for Thursday’s marquee opener against Ghana. His task: build on Côte d’Ivoire’s AFCON 2023 home triumph while managing a squad in transition. The Bouaké fixture (19:00 GMT Thursday) is Renard’s first competitive test.
🇲🇦 Morocco — Mohamed Ouahbi Begins the Post-Regragui Era
Ouahbi has been appointed head coach of the Atlas Lions and enters Friday’s Group A opener against Gabon in Rabat with the eyes of Morocco on him. He has named uncapped youngsters Abdellah Ouazane, Soufian El Faouzi and Yassir Zabiri in his first senior squad — signalling a genuine youth-focused rebuild after the Walid Regragui era. Morocco face Gabon at Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat at 19:00 GMT Friday.
🇬🇦 Gabon — Sébastien Migné Takes Over
Migné takes charge of Gabon following the international retirement of former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — genuinely the end of an era for the Panthers. His first competitive fixture is the away trip to face Morocco in Rabat. Migné faces one of the most challenging opening assignments of any new coach.
🇿🇦 South Africa — Pitso Mosimane’s Third Spell Begins
South African football icon Pitso Mosimane returns to the Bafana Bafana job for a historic third spell as head coach. His first competitive match is Saturday’s Group D home fixture against Guinea (16:00 GMT). Guinea arrive with Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy as their attacking spearhead and coach Paulo Duarte has recalled Ilaix Moriba — making this genuinely one of the most anticipated MD1 fixtures.
🚨 Osimhen Ruled OUT for Nigeria
CAF officially confirmed that Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle will begin the Super Eagles’ Group L campaign against Madagascar without Victor Osimhen, after the Galatasaray striker was ruled out of the opening two qualifiers with a muscle injury. Nigeria face Madagascar at 16:00 GMT Friday in what becomes a genuine test of Chelle’s tactical alternatives — with George Ilenikhena, Akor Adams, and Tolu Arokodare expected to lead the attacking line in Osimhen’s absence.
Given Group L is a host group (Tanzania automatically qualified), only one non-host team from Group L reaches AFCON 2027. Nigeria must qualify — and without Osimhen for the opening two matchdays, that pressure just intensified.
🏁 Thursday 24 September — Complete Matchday 1 Fixtures (All Times GMT)
| Time (GMT) | Group | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | Group G | 🇳🇦 Namibia v Congo 🇨🇬 |
| 16:00 | Group E | 🇨🇩 DR Congo v Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶 |
| 16:00 | Group F | 🇲🇷 Mauritania v Central African Republic 🇨🇫 |
| 16:00 | Group H | 🇱🇾 Libya v Botswana 🇧🇼 |
| 19:00 | Group C | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire v Ghana 🇬🇭 (Bouaké) |
| 19:00 | Group E | 🇸🇱 Sierra Leone v Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 |
| 19:00 | Group G | 🇨🇲 Cameroon v Comoros 🇰🇲 |
| 19:00 | Group H | 🇹🇳 Tunisia v Uganda 🇺🇬 |
⚽ Friday 25 September — The Big Day (14 fixtures, All Times GMT)
| Time (GMT) | Group | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | Group L | 🇹🇿 Tanzania v Guinea-Bissau 🇬🇼 (Benjamin Mkapa Stadium) |
| 15:00 | Group A | 🇳🇪 Niger v Lesotho 🇱🇸 |
| 16:00 | Group B | 🇲🇼 Malawi v South Sudan 🇸🇸 |
| 16:00 | Group C | 🇬🇲 Gambia v Somalia 🇸🇴 |
| 16:00 | Group I | 🇹🇬 Togo v Burundi 🇧🇮 |
| 16:00 | Group J | 🇸🇩 Sudan v Ethiopia 🇪🇹 |
| 16:00 | Group K | 🇷🇼 Rwanda v Liberia 🇱🇷 |
| 16:00 | Group L | 🇳🇬 Nigeria v Madagascar 🇲🇬 (no Osimhen) |
| 19:00 | Group A | 🇲🇦 Morocco v Gabon 🇬🇦 (Ouahbi & Migné debuts) |
| 19:00 | Group B | 🇪🇬 Egypt v Angola 🇦🇴 (7-time champions) |
| 19:00 | Group F | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso v Benin 🇧🇯 |
| 19:00 | Group I | 🇩🇿 Algeria v Zambia 🇿🇲 (Tizi-Ouzou) |
| 19:00 | Group J | 🇸🇳 Senegal v Mozambique 🇲🇿 |
| 19:00 | Group K | 🇲🇱 Mali v Cape Verde 🇨🇻 |
🏆 Saturday 26 September — Group D Concludes MD1 (All Times GMT)
| Time (GMT) | Group | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| 13:00 | Group D | 🇰🇪 Kenya v Eritrea 🇪🇷 (Nyayo National Stadium) |
| 16:00 | Group D | 🇿🇦 South Africa v Guinea 🇬🇳 (Mosimane’s debut) |
The Host Group Rule — What It Means
Three of the 12 groups (D, H, L) contain co-host nations that are automatically qualified for AFCON 2027. In these groups:
- Group D: 🇰🇪 Kenya auto-qualified. South Africa, Guinea, Eritrea fight for ONE slot
- Group H: 🇺🇬 Uganda auto-qualified. Tunisia, Libya, Botswana fight for ONE slot
- Group L: 🇹🇿 Tanzania auto-qualified. Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau fight for ONE slot
In all other groups (A, B, C, E, F, G, I, J, K), the top TWO teams qualify.
The Complete AFCON 2027 Qualifying Calendar
| Matchday | Dates | Status |
|---|---|---|
| MD1 | 24-26 September 2026 | This week |
| MD2 | 28 September-6 October 2026 | Next 2 weeks |
| MD3 | 9-13 November 2026 | 7 weeks |
| MD4 | 14-17 November 2026 | 8 weeks |
| MD5 | 22-25 March 2027 | 6 months |
| MD6 | 27-30 March 2027 | 6 months |
| Tournament | 19 June – 17 July 2027 | 9 months |
Why PAMOJA?
PAMOJA is the Swahili word for “Together” — and it reflects CAF’s vision of unity, cooperation and shared progress through football as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda prepare to become the first three nations to jointly host the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON.
AFCON 2027 marks the return of Africa’s flagship football competition to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the tournament in 1976 — a 51-year absence.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do AFCON 2027 qualifiers kick off?
Thursday 24 September 2026 at 13:00 GMT with Namibia v Congo in Group G. The complete Matchday 1 window runs from Thursday to Saturday 26 September, featuring 24 matches.
When is Tanzania’s first AFCON 2027 qualifier?
Tanzania face Guinea-Bissau at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam at 13:00 GMT (16:00 EAT) on Friday 25 September 2026.
When is Kenya’s first AFCON 2027 qualifier?
Kenya face Eritrea at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi at 13:00 GMT (16:00 EAT) on Saturday 26 September 2026.
When is Uganda’s first AFCON 2027 qualifier?
Uganda face Tunisia away at 19:00 GMT on Thursday 24 September 2026.
Who are the new coaches making their competitive debuts?
Four national teams have new coaches for AFCON 2027 qualifiers: Hervé Renard (returning to Côte d’Ivoire), Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco), Sébastien Migné (Gabon), and Pitso Mosimane (returning for a third spell at South Africa).
Is Victor Osimhen playing for Nigeria?
No. CAF officially confirmed on 21 September 2026 that Osimhen has been ruled out of Nigeria’s opening two matchdays with a muscle injury. He is expected to return for the November window.
How many teams will play at AFCON 2027?
24 teams will compete at the AFCON 2027 Finals in Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
How many groups are there in qualifying?
The 48 competing nations have been divided into 12 groups of 4 teams each. Top two teams from each group qualify EXCEPT in Groups D, H and L (host groups) where only ONE non-host team qualifies.
What is the marquee Matchday 1 fixture?
Côte d’Ivoire v Ghana at Bouaké on Thursday 24 September at 19:00 GMT — a heavyweight West African clash between two former African champions. Both squads are in transition under new/returning coaches.
For our comprehensive Matchday 1 & 2 fixtures see our complete fixtures article. For Tanzania’s squad see our Taifa Stars preview. For Nigeria’s squad and the Osimhen crisis see our Super Eagles preview. For our comprehensive countdown see our AFCON 2027 countdown article. For the full tournament overview see our AFCON 2027 dates guide.
Article based on official CAF announcement published 21 September 2026 (cafonline.com/afcon2025/news/road-to-afcon-2027-totalenergies-caf-afcon-pamoja-2027-qualifiers-take-centre-stage-as-matchdays-1-and-2-kick-off). All fixture times are CAF-official and GMT-aligned. Article will be updated with match reports as fixtures conclude.