At least two national teams have secured their places in the group stage qualifiers for the Africa Cup of Nations 2027 after the completion of Sunday’s second-leg matches in the preliminary round, setting the tone for what promises to be a competitive qualification series across the continent.
Lesotho confirmed their progression with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Seychelles, overturning an early setback to advance on aggregate. After both sides had settled for a goalless draw in the first leg, Seychelles made a bright start in the return fixture, taking the lead through Brandon Labrosse. However, Lesotho responded with renewed urgency, as Lebohang Lesako brought them level before Motebang Sera struck late to seal the comeback win and send his side into the next phase of the qualifiers.
South Sudan also booked their spot in the next round, although their passage was not without a late scare. Despite suffering a 1-0 defeat at home to Djibouti in Juba, the result proved inconsequential due to their dominant performance in the first leg. South Sudan had recorded a commanding 4-0 victory away from home earlier, ensuring they progressed comfortably with a 4-1 aggregate scoreline. The empty stadium setting in Juba added a subdued atmosphere to the encounter, but it did little to change the overall outcome of the tie.
Elsewhere, attention now turns to the remaining preliminary round fixtures scheduled for Tuesday, where several teams will look to complete the job and secure their own places in the group stage qualifiers. Eritrea head into their second-leg clash against Eswatini with a 2-0 advantage, placing them in a strong position to progress if they can maintain their composure.
In another evenly balanced tie, Mauritius and Somalia remain deadlocked following a goalless first leg, leaving everything to play for in the return fixture. Both sides will be aiming to produce a decisive performance to break the stalemate and move forward in the competition.
Burundi, meanwhile, appear to have one foot firmly in the next round after a commanding 4-0 win over Chad in the first leg. They will be expected to complete the task when both teams meet again. Similarly, Ethiopia carry a comfortable 3-0 advantage into their return leg against Sao Tome and Principe, with the initial encounter having been played in El Jadida.
The winners from these preliminary fixtures will advance to the group stage qualifiers, where they will join Africa’s higher-ranked teams in the battle for qualification spots at the tournament. The next phase is expected to be more intense, as stronger sides enter the race and the level of competition rises significantly.
The 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. As co-hosts, the three nations have already secured automatic qualification, allowing them to focus on preparations as they get set to stage one of the continent’s biggest football events.
With early qualifiers already decided and more teams on the brink of progression, the road to AFCON 2027 is beginning to take shape, offering a glimpse of the competition and drama that lies ahead in the coming months.
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