The national team of Sudan has intensified preparations in Taif, Saudi Arabia ahead of their 2027 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier matches.

Sudan will host Ethiopia in Juba on September 25^th and face Mozambique four days later in Maputo in Group J matches.

James Kwesi Appiah, the Sudan head coach has made it clear that they are looking forward to making a good start in the qualifiers because their target is to qualify for the AFCON 2027.

“We have had players joining the team in groups because many have been busy with their teams in CAF competitions,” added Appiah.

Nine other teams in the CECAFA Zone are also preparing ahead of Day 1 of the AFCON qualifiers.

South Sudan under a new coach Christian N’Sengi-Biembe are also preparing to play away to Malawi in a Group B match, while Rwanda will host Liberia in a Group K tie on the September 25^th.

Eritrea who qualified from the preliminary stage will play away to Kenya, while Somalia travel to face The Gambia in Group D and C matches respectively. Uganda and Burundi will travel to face Tunisia and Togo respectively.

The AFCON 2027 will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Day 1 matches for CECAFA teams

Group B: Malawi vs South Sudan

Group C: Gambia vs Somalia

Group D: Kenya vs Eritrea

Group H: Tunisia vs Uganda

Group I: Togo vs Burundi

Group J: Sudan vs Ethiopia

Group K: Rwanda vs Liberia

Group L: Tanzania vs Guinea

The qualification road map for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA (AFCON) 2027 has been released with the first group matches to be played September 21^st, 2026.

Last week the FIFA Council held in Canada approved June 19^th to July 17th, 2027 as the dates for the AFCON 2027 to be hosted jointly by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

After the completion of the preliminary round that saw CECAFA teams; Somalia, Eritrea, Burundi, Ethiopia and South Sudan make it to the group stage, the draw will now be conducted on May 19^th.

A total of 48 teams, including the three Co-hosts, will participate in the qualifiers which will be played across the three FIFA International Windows. The teams will be drawn in 12 groups of four teams, and the top two in each group will qualify for AFCON 2027.

The Matchdays 1 and 2 matches will be played September 21^st to October 6^th, Matchdays 3 and 4 between November 9-17^th, and the Matchdays 5 and 6 between March 22-30, 2027

Teams from the CECAFA Zone that will play in the group qualifiers include; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia.

The Ocean Stars of Somalia have qualified for the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers.

After a goalless draw over two legs against Mauritius, the Ocean Stars qualified for the first time after edging the hosts 4-2 in penalty shootouts in a match played on Tuesday.

The Somalia team has now joined other teams from the CECAFA Zone South Sudan, Eritrea, Burundi and Ethiopia.

In Eswatini, Ibrahim Sulieman Ibrahim netted a brace for Eritrea to win 2-1. The Red Sea Camels who had most players on the squad plying outside the African continent qualified on a 4-1 goal aggregate.

“Scoring four goals and conceding one means that the team played well and we are happy to qualify for the next stage,” said Eritrea’s coach Hasham Yakan.

Ethiopia also scored a lone goal through Ghernet Gugsa to beat Sao Tome & Principe 1-0 in the return leg played at the Dire Dawa Stadium. The Ethiopians qualified on a 4-0 goal aggregate.

Burundi thrashed Chad 4-0 in Bujumbura to record a huge 8-0 goal aggregate. The five teams from the CECAFA Zone that qualified from the preliminary stage of the qualifiers include; South Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Burundi and Ethiopia.

The AFCON 2027 will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

South Sudan have qualified for the next stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 qualifiers.

Djibouti defeated South Sudan 1-0 in the return leg of the preliminary round on Sunday, but the Bright Star qualified on a 4-1 goal aggregate.

After several misses by both teams, Sameul Temidayo netted Djibouti’s lone goal after 77 minutes. The South Sudan team tried to push forward to find goals, but failed to convert.

It was Djibouti’s first win away from home in so many years.

Action continues on Tuesday with more teams from the CECAFA Zone taking to the field in the second legs. Somalia who settled for a goalless draw against Mauritius in the first leg will hope to get on their scoring boots.

Burundi with a 4-0 advantage will host Chad, while Eritrea and Ethiopia will also be in action against Eswatini and Sao Tome & Principe respectively.

The best teams after two legs of the preliminary round will be drawn with the other better ranked teams to battle in the group stage of the qualifiers.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will host the AFCON 2027.