The September international window for the next two weeks, belongs to the African football national teams as it brings the opening chapters of the qualification race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, with 48 nations entering the group stage and the continent’s biggest football powers beginning the journey towards East Africa.
Nigeria, Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, South Africa and the rest of Africa’s leading sides, this is where the next AFCON campaign starts to take shape.
The FIFA international window runs from September 21 to October 6, 2026, and FIFA’s new calendar makes this a 16-day window capable of accommodating up to four international matches.
But for the African nations, the main business is AFCON qualification.
CAF has scheduled the first two matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers within this window, with the opening round taking place between September 23 and 25 and the second round between September 27 and 29.
And that means Africa is about to get its first serious look at the teams that could eventually battle for continental supremacy in 2027.
AFCON 2027: the destination is East Africa
The next AFCON will be different from most previous editions. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027, bringing the competition back to East Africa for the first time in more than five decades.
The three hosts are already guaranteed places at the finals, yet CAF has included all three in the qualifying competition and that creates one of the most unusual elements of the qualifying campaign.
The 48 participating nations have been divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two normally qualifying for the finals.
However, because Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are automatic qualifiers, only the highest-ranked non-host nation will qualify from each of Group’s D, H and L.
That has major consequences for Nigeria. Tanzania are in Nigeria’s Group L. although Tanzania cannot lose their place at the finals, Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau are effectively fighting for one qualifying ticket.
The 12 AFCON 2027 qualifying groups
CAF’s draw has produced a competition packed with heavyweight nations, regional rivalries and groups where even traditionally smaller teams have a realistic chance of causing problems.
Group A
Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
Matchday 1:
- Morocco vs Gabon
- Niger vs Lesotho
Matchday 2:
- Gabon vs Niger
- Lesotho vs Morocco
Morocco immediately face one of the more recognizable names in African football, with Gabon providing the first major examination of the Atlas Lions’ qualifying campaign. Morocco will then travel face Lesotho on September 29.
Group B
Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
Matchday 1:
- Egypt vs Angola
- Malawi vs South Sudan
Matchday 2:
- Angola vs Malawi
- South Sudan vs Egypt
Egypt begin against Angola before travelling to South Sudan.
The group contains two of the continent’s most experienced football nations alongside teams capable of making the qualification race uncomfortable.
Group C
Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Somalia
Matchday 1:
- Cote d’Ivoire vs Ghana
- The Gambia vs Somalia
Matchday 2:
- Ghana vs The Gambia
- Somalia vs Cote d’Ivoire
This is arguably one of the most attractive opening groups. Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana meet immediately in a major West African contest, meaning one of the favourites could drop points before the qualifying campaign has properly settled.
Group D
South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Eritrea
Matchday 1:
- South Africa vs Guinea
- Kenya vs Eritrea
Matchday 2:
- Guinea vs Kenya
- Eritrea vs South Africa
This is the first of the three groups affected by the host-country qualification rule.
Kenya are automatically through as co-hosts, meaning South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea are competing for one additional place.
Group E
DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
Matchday 1:
- DR Congo vs Equatorial Guinea
- Sierra Leone vs Zimbabwe
Matchday 2:
- Equatorial Guinea vs Sierra Leone
- Zimbabwe vs DR Congo
DR Congo enter as the seeded heavyweight, but Equatorial Guinea have established themselves as a difficult opponent in recent AFCON cycles. Zimbabwe and Sierra Leone could also make the group highly competitive.
Group F
Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
Matchday 1:
- Burkina Faso vs Benin
- Mauritania vs Central African Republic
Matchday 2:
- Benin vs Mauritania
- Central African Republic vs Burkina Faso
This could become one of the most evenly matched groups.
Burkina Faso are the seeded side, but Benin and Mauritania have enough experience to challenge for the top positions, while Central African Republic will be desperate to turn their improving international profile into qualification.
Group G
Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo
Matchday 1:
- Cameroon vs Comoros
- Namibia vs Congo
Matchday 2:
- Comoros vs Namibia
- Congo vs Cameroon
Cameroon start against Comoros, a team that has already demonstrated that it can trouble established African nations. The Indomitable Lions then face Congo away.
Group H
Tunisia, Uganda, Libya, Botswana
Matchday 1:
- Tunisia vs Uganda
- Libya vs Botswana
Matchday 2:
- Uganda vs Libya
- Botswana vs Tunisia
Uganda are already qualified as co-hosts that leaves Tunisia, Libya and Botswana battling for the single additional qualification place. Tunisia therefore cannot afford to treat this as a conventional four-team group.
Group I
Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
Matchday 1:
- Algeria vs Zambia
- Togo vs Burundi
Matchday 2:
- Zambia vs Togo
- Burundi vs Algeria
Algeria immediately face Zambia in one of the standout fixtures of the opening round.
The Fennecs then travel to Burundi, giving them a demanding opening double-header.
Group J
Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
Matchday 1:
- Senegal vs Mozambique
- Sudan vs Ethiopia
Matchday 2:
- Mozambique vs Sudan
- Ethiopia vs Senegal
The reigning continental heavyweights begin their campaign at home against Mozambique before travelling to Ethiopia.
Senegal will enter the group as favourites, but Mozambique and Sudan have enough competitive experience to make the group uncomfortable.
Group K
Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
Matchday 1:
- Mali vs Cape Verde
- Rwanda vs Liberia
Matchday 2:
- Cape Verde vs Rwanda
- Liberia vs Mali
Another heavyweight opening encounter, Mali host Cape Verde before travelling to Liberia.
Cape Verde’s recent rise means Mali cannot expect an easy route through the group.
Group L
Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau
Matchday 1:
- Nigeria vs Madagascar
- Tanzania vs Guinea-Bissau
Matchday 2:
- Madagascar vs Tanzania
- Guinea-Bissau vs Nigeria
And here lies Nigeria’s road to East Africa. The Super Eagles begin at home against Madagascar before travelling to face Guinea-Bissau four days later.
The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the first fixture for September 23 in Uyo, followed by the Guinea-Bissau encounter on September 27.
The group is unusual because Tanzania are already qualified as co-hosts. therefore, only one of Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau can join Tanzania at the finals.
There is no room for Nigeria to simply assume that finishing second will be enough.
The heavyweight clashes that could define the opening round
The first two matchdays have produced several fixtures that immediately deserve attention.
Cote d’Ivoire vs Ghana
Few opening fixtures carry the same weight as this West African heavyweight contest. two major football nations meet immediately, meaning one side could already be playing catch-up after the first 90 minutes.
Morocco vs Gabon
Morocco are among the continent’s strongest sides and begin at home against Gabon. a positive start would immediately put the Atlas Lions in control of Group A.
Egypt vs Angola
Egypt’s campaign begins against Angola, a side with enough quality to punish any defensive or tactical uncertainty. The Pharaohs will want maximum points before their trip to South Sudan.
South Africa vs Guinea
With Kenya already guaranteed qualification, this is effectively the first major battle for the one remaining ticket from Group D.
Algeria vs Zambia
Another heavyweight meeting comes immediately in Group I. Algeria will be expected to lead the group, but Zambia are precisely the type of opponent capable of making that expectation irrelevant.
Senegal vs Mozambique
Senegal’s qualifying campaign starts against Mozambique, with the Lions of Teranga expected to set the early pace.
Mali vs Cape Verde
This is one of the most intriguing opening fixtures because both sides have enough quality to view qualification as a realistic target.
Nigeria vs Madagascar
For Nigeria Super eagles, everything starts in Uyo where they are expected to win, but Madagascar are no longer a side that can simply be dismissed on reputation.
Nigeria’s four-day test
Nigeria’s September programme is particularly demanding. The Super Eagles play Madagascar in Uyo on September 23 and then travel to Morocco for the meeting with Guinea-Bissau on September 27.
That is a four-day turnaround between competitive fixtures.
Nigeria must avoid dropping points against Guinea-Bissau, because Tanzania’s automatic qualification changes the mathematics of the group.
CAF’s format means the highest-ranked non-host team in Group L will take the additional qualifying place.
So Nigeria cannot approach this campaign with the traditional assumption that second place is a safety net.
The host nations create three unusual groups
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have already secured their places at AFCON 2027.
Yet their participation in qualifying serves a useful competitive purpose while creating a different qualification equation.
Group D: Kenya are automatic qualifiers.
Group H: Uganda are automatic qualifiers.
Group L: Tanzania are automatic qualifiers.
In each case, the other three nations are effectively competing for a single remaining ticket. that makes these three groups potentially more unforgiving than the other nine.
A team that loses its opening two matches could find itself needing an almost perfect recovery.
Africa’s smaller nations have an opportunity too
One of the interesting features of the draw is the number of nations hoping either to reach the AFCON finals for the first time or return after long absences.
CAF has specifically highlighted Central African Republic, Eritrea, Somalia and South Sudan among the teams seeking a historic first appearance at the finals.
It is an opportunity to establish themselves against some of Africa’s traditional powers and recent AFCON qualifying campaigns have repeatedly shown that the gap between the continent’s giants and emerging nations is not as wide as it once appeared.
The four-match window — and what happens after the qualifiers?
Although the AFCON qualifiers dominate the African programme, the new FIFA calendar gives national teams a longer international period than previous September windows.
The first two AFCON qualifying rounds occupy the core of the window, with the matches scheduled across September 23-25 and September 27-29.
That potentially leaves the later part of the window available for additional international activity.
One example already emerging is Algeria’s reported plan to use the period after their two qualifiers for another African friendly, although the opponent was still under consideration at the time of reporting.
Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon have also been reported to have an international friendly scheduled for October 3, following their opening AFCON qualifying fixtures and that is an important development in the new calendar.
So the September window is no longer simply about two competitive matches. It can become a period of four international matches two qualifiers followed by additional preparation games.
That gives coaches more time with their squads, but it also increases the demands on players who have already travelled long distances from clubs around the world.
What the first two matchdays could tell us
By the time the September window closes, Africa should have a much clearer picture of the early AFCON qualifying landscape. some favourites could establish themselves immediately.
Others could find themselves under pressure before the campaign has even reached November.
And for teams in Groups D, H and L, the margin for error is even smaller because only one non-host nation can qualify from each group.
Meanwhile for Nigeria, the equation is particularly simple, beat Madagascar, get a result against Guinea-Bissau then return home with the Super Eagles firmly in control of their own qualification destiny.
For team likes Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, South Africa, Mali and the rest of the continent’s leading nations, the mission is similar, make the opening window count.
