AFCON 2027: Lesotho vs. Morocco, Ethiopia vs. Senegal, the schedule for matchday 2 on September 28 and 29

The qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations continue with their second matchday on September 28 and 29, 2026, barely three days after the conclusion of an opening round that challenged several certainties. The detailed schedule, group by group, has been published by outlets including Senego and Africa Top Sports.

The format is that of an expanded competition: 48 national teams divided into 12 groups, six matchdays, and 24 spots for the final tournament hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, notes Al Jazeera. In other words, one out of every two teams qualifies, but every point dropped at home becomes an immediate handicap.

Monday, September 28: Botswana hosts Tunisia

The matchday opens on September 28 with four fixtures (GMT times): Equatorial Guinea vs. Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe vs. DR Congo at 4:00 PM in Group E, Central African Republic vs. Burkina Faso at 4:00 PM in Group F, and Botswana vs. Tunisia at 7:00 PM in Group H. The Carthage Eagles, held to a 1-1 draw by Uganda in Rades, travel with the obligation to reassure their fans. In the same group, Uganda hosts Libya at 4:00 PM.

Tuesday, September 29: Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, and Nigeria on the road

The bulk of the schedule takes place on September 29. At 1:00 PM: Lesotho vs. Morocco, South Sudan vs. Egypt, Burundi vs. Algeria, Ethiopia vs. Senegal, Mozambique vs. Sudan, and Madagascar vs. Tanzania. At 4:00 PM: Ghana vs. Gambia, Zambia vs. Togo, Guinea-Bissau vs. Nigeria, Cape Verde vs. Rwanda, and Comoros vs. Namibia. At 7:00 PM: Gabon vs. Niger, Somalia vs. Ivory Coast, Benin vs. Mauritania, Congo vs. Cameroon, and Liberia vs. Mali.

Senegal's trip to Addis Ababa is one of the most closely watched fixtures: in his debut on the bench, Patrick Vieira conceded a 1-1 draw against Mozambique. Ghana, beaten 2-0 in Bouaké by Ivory Coast, also plays a redemption match against Gambia. Zambia, soundly defeated 3-1 by Algeria, hosts Togo.

Group D rescheduled

Two Group D matches fall outside the common schedule: Eritrea vs. South Africa on September 30 and Guinea vs. Kenya on October 1, both at 4:00 PM. Group B will conclude even later, with Angola vs. Malawi scheduled for October 6.

The first matchday featured 24 games, including expected successes (Ivory Coast 2-0 Ghana, Cameroon 3-1 Comoros, Morocco 2-0 Gabon, Algeria 3-1 Zambia, Mali 3-1 Cape Verde, Rwanda 3-1 Liberia) and resounding stumbles: Egypt 0-0 Angola, Senegal 1-1 Mozambique, Tunisia 1-1 Uganda, Libya 2-2 Botswana. Matchdays 3 and 4 will follow from November 9 to 17, 2026.