The first two matchdays of the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations have already allowed several players to stand out as individuals to watch. Some have excelled with their goals, while others have made an impact on the game or shown consistency across these two matches.
From Gambia to Zimbabwe, including Ivory Coast, Egypt, DR Congo, and South Africa, several players have particularly left their mark at the start of this competition.
Ebrima Colley
It's impossible not to notice Ebrima Colley. The Gambian forward scored in both of the first two matchdays, totaling three goals already. After converting a penalty in the victory against Somalia (2-1), he netted twice against Ghana in Accra during a thrilling 4-2 win.
Entering a match where the Scorpions were trailing 2-1, Colley gave Gambia the lead in the 68th minute before sealing the victory in stoppage time. With six points from six and three goals to his name, the start of the campaign has been particularly successful for the forward.
Marshall Munetsi, a scoring midfielder
Zimbabwe can also count on a particularly impressive player: Marshall Munetsi. The midfielder scored twice during the comeback against Sierra Leone on the first matchday, helping the Warriors overturn a 2-0 deficit.
Munetsi found the net again on the second matchday against DR Congo. However, his goal in stoppage time was not enough for Zimbabwe, which lost 2-1. With three goals in two matches, he is currently tied with Ebrima Colley at the top of the scoring chart.
Malick Yalcouyé
This is one of the great stories of the early qualifiers. In his first selection with Ivory Coast, Malick Yalcouyé was fielded by Hervé Renard against Ghana. The Brighton midfielder made an impact by opening the scoring in the 44th minute with a strike that propelled the Elephants to a 2-0 victory.
Yalcouyé not only scored but also won the penalty converted by Franck Kessié after the break. According to Ivorian media, his activity was again noted during the second match against Somalia. Despite some inaccuracies, his work rate and ability to move between the lines caught attention.
Yoane Wissa
DR Congo also relied on Yoane Wissa. After scoring on the first matchday against Equatorial Guinea, the forward found the net again during the trip to Zimbabwe.
Wissa opened the scoring in the 30th minute before Samuel Moutoussamy doubled the Congolese advantage.
Omar Marmoush
After a goalless draw against Angola on the first matchday, Egypt needed to respond. The Pharaohs did so with a 5-0 victory over South Sudan, featuring a notable performance from Omar Marmoush.
The forward scored two goals, in the 49th and 83rd minutes. This performance allows him to reposition himself among the most prominent offensive figures at the start of the qualifiers. Egypt now has one win and one draw after its first two matches.
Relebohile Mofokeng
South Africa concluded this second matchday with a demonstration. After their 2-1 victory over Guinea on the first matchday, they crushed Eritrea 5-0.
Relebohile Mofokeng particularly shone in this match with a brace in the 19th and 45th+1 minutes. The young forward from Union Saint-Gilloise contributed to a second consecutive victory for the Bafana Bafana, who now sit alone at the top of their group with six points.
Nene Dorgeles
Although Mali was less flamboyant on the second matchday, Nene Dorgeles had already made a strong impact in his debut. The Malian winger scored twice in the 3-1 victory over Cape Verde.
