AFCON 2027 QUALIFIERS: DAY 1 RESULTS, FIXTURES AS NIGERIA FACE MADAGASCAR

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign began on Thursday with eight Match Day 1 fixtures played across the continent, while Nigeria will begin their campaign against Madagascar on Friday.

The Super Eagles will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.

Nigeria are in Group L alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania, with Tanzania already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON finals as one of the co-hosts.

As a result, only the highest-placed team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will claim the remaining qualification spot from the group.

Nigeria will travel to Guinea-Bissau for their second Group L fixture on Tuesday, while Madagascar will take on Tanzania.

Thursday’s Results

Group C
Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 Ghana

Côte d’Ivoire began their campaign with a 2-0 victory over Ghana. Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scored for the hosts.

Group E
DR Congo 2-0 Equatorial Guinea

Chancel Mbemba put DR Congo ahead early before Yoane Wissa doubled the lead in the second half.

Group E
Sierra Leone 2-3 Zimbabwe

Sierra Leone established a 2-0 half-time lead through Alie Conteh and Sallieu Tarawallie, but Zimbabwe produced a second-half comeback.

Marshall Munetsi scored twice, while Tawanda Chirewa added another goal as Zimbabwe completed the turnaround to win 3-2.

Group F
Mauritania 3-1 Central African Republic

Mauritania recovered from a first-half setback to record a 3-1 victory. Aboubakary Koïta, Dawda Camara and Mamadou Diallo scored for the hosts.

Group G
Namibia 1-0 Congo

Bethuel Muzeu scored in the 47th minute to give Namibia a narrow victory in their opening qualifier.

Group G
Cameroon 3-1 Comoros

Cameroon defeated Comoros 3-1, with David Roy Nyengue, Bryan Mbeumo and Daniel Namaso finding the net for the hosts.

Comoros briefly reduced the deficit through a free-kick goal but could not complete a comeback.

Group H
Tunisia 1-1 Uganda

Tunisia were held to a 1-1 draw by Uganda. Ali Arous gave the hosts the lead before Rogers Mato equalised for the visitors.

Group H
Libya 2-2 Botswana

Botswana surrendered a two-goal advantage as Libya fought back to secure a draw.

Tumisang Orebonye scored twice for Botswana before Maruwan Alhibeeshi and Ezoo El Mariamy, who converted a stoppage-time penalty, brought Libya level.

Friday’s Fixtures

Group A: Niger v Lesotho, Morocco v Gabon

Group B: Malawi v South Sudan, Egypt v Angola

Group C: Gambia v Somalia

Group F: Burkina Faso v Benin

Group I: Togo v Burundi, Algeria v Zambia

Group J: Sudan v Ethiopia, Senegal v Mozambique

Group K: Rwanda v Liberia, Mali v Cape Verde

Group L: Tanzania v Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria v Madagascar

The Match Day 1 programme will conclude on Saturday when Kenya face Eritrea and South Africa take on Guinea.