Following the 24 matches of the first round of qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, the 12 groups have already produced some interesting results. Algeria, Morocco, Ivory Coast, DR Congo, Mauritania, Cameroon, Togo, Sudan, Mali, and Guinea-Bissau all started their campaigns with three points.

In several groups, the margins are already slim. Group H is particularly balanced with two draws, one between Libya and Botswana (2-2) and the other between Tunisia and Uganda (1-1). A similar situation is found in Group F, where Burkina Faso and Benin also drew, while Senegal and Mozambique each have just one point in Group J.

The situation is unique in Groups D, H, and L. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, co-hosts of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, automatically qualify for the final stage. In each of these groups, only the best-performing team among the other three will secure the second qualifying ticket.

Group standings after the first round

Group A

  1. Morocco – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Niger – 3 pts (+1)
  3. Lesotho – 0 pts (-1)
  4. Gabon – 0 pts (-2)

Group B

  1. Malawi – 3 pts (+1)
  2. Egypt – 1 pt (0)
  3. Angola – 1 pt (0)
  4. South Sudan – 0 pts (-1)

Group C

  1. Ivory Coast – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Gambia – 3 pts (+1)
  3. Somalia – 0 pts (-1)
  4. Ghana – 0 pts (-2)

Group D

  1. South Africa – 3 pts (+1)
  2. Kenya – 1 pt (0)
  3. Eritrea – 1 pt (0)
  4. Guinea – 0 pts (-1)

Group E

  1. DR Congo – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Zimbabwe – 3 pts (+1)
  3. Sierra Leone – 0 pts (-1)
  4. Equatorial Guinea – 0 pts (-2)

Group F

  1. Mauritania – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Burkina Faso – 1 pt (0)
  3. Benin – 1 pt (0)
  4. Central African Republic – 0 pts (-2)

Group G

  1. Cameroon – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Namibia – 3 pts (+1)
  3. Congo – 0 pts (-1)
  4. Comoros – 0 pts (-2)

Group H

  1. Libya – 1 pt (+0)
  2. Botswana – 1 pt (+0)
  3. Tunisia – 1 pt (+0)
  4. Uganda – 1 pt (+0)

Group I

  1. Algeria – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Togo – 3 pts (+1)
  3. Burundi – 0 pts (-1)
  4. Zambia – 0 pts (-2)

Group J

  1. Sudan – 3 pts (+1)
  2. Senegal – 1 pt (0)
  3. Mozambique – 1 pt (0)
  4. Ethiopia – 0 pts (-1)

Group K

  1. Mali – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Rwanda – 3 pts (+2)
  3. Cape Verde – 0 pts (-2)
  4. Liberia – 0 pts (-2)

Group L

  1. Guinea-Bissau – 3 pts (+2)
  2. Nigeria – 3 pts (+1)
  3. Madagascar – 0 pts (-1)
  4. Tanzania – 0 pts (-2)