This September will see the start of an exciting period for African football with two parallel storylines unfolding. On the one hand, the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign will come to an end with a record number of CAF nations qualifying for next year’s finals. On the other hand, the qualifications for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will begin, marking a new period of continental rivalry. Keep reading for information about the upcoming fixtures, groups, and players.
World Cup 2026 Qualifying Campaign Brings Record Number of Teams
The qualification campaign for the World Cup organized by the CAF brought a record number of countries to Africa. Senegal, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Cape Verde, Ghana, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, and South Africa qualified automatically. DR Congo earned qualification thanks to their success in the intercontinental play-offs. Both Nigeria and Cameroon lost their chances despite making it to the last qualifying round.
Qualifying night can be seen as an entertaining event, and not only due to the football being played on the field. Fans who like statistics related to their favorite sport sometimes prefer to play casino games until the late kick-offs begin. This trend emerged along with the development of video streaming services broadcasting several African qualifiers at once. No matter what is chosen, most fans usually come back to football when the game ends.
AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Are Scheduled to Begin This Month
CAF’s qualifications for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations are scheduled for 24 September – 6 October 2026. The forty-eight nations will compete for qualification spots in twelve groups in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. One of the most interesting groups to watch is Group C, where the Ivory Coast will face Ghana. Group J can also be mentioned because Senegal will play their first game against Mozambique on home soil.
Betting markets connected with group winners and runners-up are quite popular among football fans before each qualifying day starts. Odds change rapidly in hours after a certain surprising outcome of the game. Several groups are considered highly competitive, which means that the sports betting markets are constantly changing. It should be noted that fans see such odds as a kind of extra discussion, and not as a replacement for watching football on the field.
Some talented individuals are already known before the first matchdays.
| Player | Country | Why to Watch |
| Mohamed Salah | Egypt | Leads Egypt’s push for a record eighth AFCON title |
| Victor Osimhen | Nigeria | Aiming to fire Nigeria back among Africa’s elite sides |
| Achraf Hakimi | Morocco | Anchors a Moroccan side chasing continued global relevance |
| Serhou Guirassy | Guinea | Guinea’s main attacking threat in a tough Group D |
Each of these players alone could sway a close qualifying group all by themselves.
Standout Matchups to Keep an Eye On
There are several fixtures taking place in Matchday One that mean more than just their standings in the group. The game between the Ivory Coast and Ghana brings back one of West Africa’s most enduring rivalry games in a competitive environment. Morocco plays against Gabon in an attempt to continue their success in the World Cup qualification. In addition, Tunisia vs. Uganda and Cameroon vs. Comoros complete Matchday One fixtures.
The home fixture of South Africa and Guinea also needs some attention due to completely different reasons. The former have yet to rebuild their reputation after getting a points deduction in World Cup qualification. On the other hand, the latter team comes to this match feeling full of confidence due to their successful participation in recent continental tournaments. Both teams understand that an early loss in the group stage means a more difficult road to 2027.
Those interested in finding official information about kick-off times and locations can refer to the CAF’s Matchday 1 and 2 fixtures announcement, where every group is mentioned in detail. It comes in handy before deciding which games are worth watching because several fixtures start within hours of each other in different time zones.
Coaches Under Pressure
There are several national coaches who face pressure during this qualifying campaign. The coaches of Nigeria need to cope with criticism after missing World Cup qualification. The same goes for Cameroon’s technical staff after their embarrassing playoff defeat. Finally, South Africa will have to deal with the consequences of their points deduction in the World Cup qualifiers.
The results of the next matchdays will determine the extent of patience that federations demonstrate. An unsuccessful start in Group G or Group C can speed up the demand for changes in the benches. On the other hand, the teams that remain undefeated at the beginning of their qualifying campaign will be able to alleviate the pressure for November return fixtures.
What to Expect Before the Next International Window
This period has something to offer for every fan of African football, including World Cup preparations and new AFCON qualifying battles. The winners of the groups will start pulling ahead of the others after the end of Matchday Two in early October. All established stars and young talents will influence the development of the group stages. Anyone interested in the sport in Africa will not lack interesting events in the season.