AFCON 2027: Six countries make group stage qualifiers after preliminary round

Six nations have advanced to the AFCON 2027 group stage qualifiers following Tuesday’s second-leg preliminary round matches.

Burundi turned in a dominant display, thrashing Chad 4-0 on the night to complete an emphatic 8-0 aggregate victory.

Ethiopia edged São Tomé and Príncipe 1-0 in the second leg, cruising through with a 4-0 aggregate scoreline.

Somalia secured its place via a tense penalty shootout, prevailing 4-2 against Mauritius after a goalless second leg.

Eritrea also progressed, claiming a 2-1 win in the return fixture against Eswatini to seal a 4-1 aggregate victory.

With these results, Eritrea, Somalia, Burundi, and Ethiopia join Lesotho and South Sudan in the group stage qualifying phase.

Lesotho had previously advanced past Seychelles with a 2-1 aggregate win following a scoreless first leg, while South Sudan defeated Djibouti 4-1 on aggregate.

DAILY POST reports that these six successful teams will now compete alongside Africa’s higher-ranked teams in the AFCON 2027 group stage of qualifiers.

The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, who have all automatically qualified as host nations.