The lineup for the group stage of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification cycle has been finalized following the conclusion of the second-leg preliminary fixtures on Tuesday. A total of six emerging footballing nations successfully navigated their respective double-header ties to join the continent’s elite in the upcoming phase of the competition.
Burundi delivered the most emphatic performance of the round, dismantling Chad with a 4-0 victory on the night to seal a commanding 8-0 aggregate triumph. Meanwhile, Ethiopia maintained their professional composure by securing a narrow 1-0 win over SĂŁo TomĂ© and PrĂncipe, ensuring their progression with a comfortable 4-0 total scoreline. In a more closely contested affair, Somalia demonstrated remarkable mental fortitude to overcome Mauritius 4-2 in a high-stakes penalty shootout after their second-leg encounter ended in a tactical stalemate.
Eritrea also validated their position in the next round by defeating Eswatini 2-1 in the return leg, resulting in a decisive 4-1 aggregate success. These four nations now join Lesotho and South Sudan, both of whom had previously confirmed their advancement. Lesotho progressed via a 2-1 aggregate victory over Seychelles, while South Sudan bypassed Djibouti with a convincing 4-1 overall score.
These six successful sides will now enter the main qualification groups, where they will test their mettle against Africa’s top-seeded teams. The ultimate goal remains a spot in the 2027 finals, an edition set to be historically co-hosted by the East African trio of Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania—all of whom have already been granted automatic entry as tournament organizers.
