AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Roundup
Matchday Two of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers delivered goals, teenage brilliance and dramatic comebacks across the continent.
Egypt recorded the biggest victory of the day by defeating South Sudan 5-0, with Omar Marmoush scoring twice before 18-year-old Hamza Abdelkarim added his first senior international goal. Morocco maintained their perfect qualifying record with a 2-0 victory over Lesotho, while Ibrahim Mbaye secured Senegal’s first Group J win against Ethiopia.
Algeria also demonstrated their resilience, recovering from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Burundi and remain unbeaten at the top of Group I.
AFCON Qualifying Results
| Match | Result | Key performers |
|---|---|---|
| South Sudan vs Egypt | 0-5 | Marmoush brace, Abdelkarim first goal |
| Lesotho vs Morocco | 0-2 | Brahim DÃaz, Azzedine Ounahi |
| Ethiopia vs Senegal | 0-1 | Ibrahim Mbaye |
| Burundi vs Algeria | 2-2 | Mohamed Belloumi, Adel Boulbina |
South Sudan 0-5 Egypt: Marmoush Brace Leads Pharaohs’ Rout
Egypt registered their first victory of the qualifying campaign with an emphatic 5-0 win over South Sudan at Juba National Stadium.
The Pharaohs had been held to a goalless draw by Angola in their opening Group B fixture, placing early pressure on Hossam Hassan’s team. Egypt responded with a dominant attacking display despite captain Mohamed Salah being left out of the matchday squad to avoid risking him on the artificial playing surface.
Mostafa Zico Opens the Scoring
South Sudan resisted until the 36th minute, when Mostafa Zico finally broke the deadlock.
The goal rewarded Egypt’s control of possession and gave the visitors a valuable advantage before half-time. Once the first goal arrived, South Sudan struggled to contain Egypt’s movement and attacking quality.
Marmoush doubled the lead four minutes into the second half. The Tottenham forward found space around the penalty area and produced the clinical finish Egypt had been searching for.
Marmoush Completes His Brace
Ibrahim Adel scored Egypt’s third goal in the 75th minute before Marmoush struck again eight minutes later to complete his brace.
Marmoush’s performance demonstrated why he remains one of Egypt’s most important attacking players. His pace, intelligent movement and finishing allowed the Pharaohs to dominate without Salah.
Egypt had already secured the three points when Hassan introduced Hamza Abdelkarim in the 87th minute.
Hamza Abdelkarim Scores His First Egypt Goal
The 18-year-old Barcelona striker required only a few minutes to make his mark.
Abdelkarim reacted quickly after the South Sudan goalkeeper parried a shot into his path. The youngster collected the rebound and finished into an exposed net in the second minute of stoppage time.
It was Abdelkarim’s first goal for Egypt’s senior national team and completed the 5-0 victory. He scored with only his second touch after entering the match.
The teenager has enjoyed a remarkable year after making his Barcelona first-team debut and featuring for Egypt at the World Cup. His latest performance provides another sign that he could become an important long-term option for the Pharaohs.
Egypt now have four points from two Group B matches. Their next assignment will be an international friendly against South Africa before the AFCON qualifiers resume in November.
Lesotho 0-2 Morocco: Brahim DÃaz Delivers Again
Morocco continued their perfect start to AFCON 2027 qualification with a professional 2-0 victory over Lesotho in Bloemfontein.
The fixture was staged in South Africa because Lesotho does not currently have a CAF-approved stadium. Morocco consequently played in front of a small crowd but still dominated virtually every phase of the match.
The Atlas Lions controlled more than 80% of possession as Lesotho defended with several players behind the ball.
Brahim DÃaz Breaks Lesotho’s Resistance
Morocco initially struggled to transform their dominance into clear opportunities. Lesotho’s compact defensive block closed the central spaces and forced the Atlas Lions to circulate the ball around the middle third.
Brahim DÃaz eventually opened the scoring in the 45th minute.
Operating from the right side but frequently moving into the central half-space, DÃaz capitalised on a defensive mistake and finished beyond Lesotho goalkeeper Sekhoane Moerane.
It was another decisive international contribution from the Real Madrid attacker and reportedly his 16th goal for Morocco.
DÃaz continues to deliver whenever Morocco need inspiration. Even when he is not producing his most dominant performance, his movement and finishing make him a consistent threat.
Ounahi Seals Morocco’s Second Win
Lesotho remained disciplined after the break, but the hosts offered very little attacking threat.
Morocco continued searching for a second goal and eventually found it in the 82nd minute. Soufiane Rahimi supplied the assist before Azzedine Ounahi produced a composed finish to secure the victory.
The result gives Morocco six points from two matches and leaves them top of Group A. The Atlas Lions have scored four goals without conceding during their opening two qualifiers.
Morocco will next face Ghana in an international friendly on October 4.
Ethiopia 0-1 Senegal: Ibrahim Mbaye Wins It for Lions of Teranga
Senegal secured their first AFCON 2027 qualifying victory with a narrow 1-0 win over Ethiopia at Bahir Dar National Stadium.
The Lions of Teranga entered the match needing a response after being held to a 1-1 draw by Mozambique in their opening fixture.
Ibrahim Mbaye delivered that response after only 11 minutes.
Mbaye Scores His Fifth International Goal
The 18-year-old attacker found the net early and Senegal protected the advantage throughout the remainder of the match.
It was Mbaye’s fifth senior international goal, further enhancing his reputation as one of Africa’s most exciting young talents.
The teenager played with confidence beyond his years, offering energy, movement and a direct threat in the attacking third. His early finish gave Senegal something to defend and forced Ethiopia to take greater risks.
Ethiopia attempted to find an equaliser, but Senegal’s experienced defence managed the match successfully and secured a valuable clean sheet.
The 1-0 result moved Senegal onto four points and gave Patrick Vieira his first competitive victory since taking charge of the national team.
Senegal will face Sudan when the qualifying campaign resumes in November. With Mbaye developing quickly and established stars providing experience, the Lions of Teranga remain strong favourites to qualify from Group J.
Burundi 2-2 Algeria: Desert Foxes Recover From Nightmare Start
Algeria produced the most dramatic recovery among the four featured matches, coming from two goals down to earn a 2-2 draw against Burundi.
The Desert Foxes entered the match following a 3-1 victory over Zambia but endured a disastrous opening in their second Group I fixture.
Burundi Score Twice in 12 Minutes
Burundi moved ahead after only five minutes when Farès Chaïbi inadvertently directed the ball into his own net.
The situation became even worse for Algeria seven minutes later. Jean Claude Girumugisha scored Burundi’s second goal, leaving the North African side 2-0 behind after only 12 minutes.
Burundi’s intensity and direct attacking approach unsettled Algeria, whose defence initially struggled to manage the pressure.
Belloumi Starts Algeria’s Recovery
Algeria gradually regained their composure and reduced the deficit through Mohamed Belloumi in the 30th minute.
The goal changed the momentum of the contest and ensured the Desert Foxes entered half-time believing they could complete the recovery.
Algeria controlled more of the match after the interval as Burundi dropped deeper to defend their advantage.
Adel Boulbina eventually produced the equaliser in the 63rd minute, scoring an excellent free-kick to make it 2-2.
Algeria pushed for a winning goal but could not complete the turnaround. Nevertheless, recovering from such a poor opening demonstrated the team’s character.
The Desert Foxes remain unbeaten with four points from their first two matches and continue to lead the early Group I qualification race.
Young African Stars Shine in AFCON Qualifiers
One of the main stories from Matchday Two was the impact made by Africa’s emerging generation.
Hamza Abdelkarim came off the bench to score his first senior goal for Egypt, while Ibrahim Mbaye delivered Senegal’s match-winning goal at only 18. Both players are already demonstrating the confidence required to influence important international fixtures.
More established stars also delivered. Marmoush scored twice for Egypt, Brahim DÃaz continued his impressive Morocco record and Boulbina produced the free-kick that rescued Algeria.
These performances underline the depth of attacking talent competing for places at AFCON 2027.
What the Results Mean for Qualification
Morocco are in the strongest position after winning both of their opening Group A matches. Egypt recovered from their draw with Angola and now have four points in Group B.
Senegal also moved to four points following their opening draw, while Algeria remain unbeaten on four points after one victory and one draw.
Each team still has four qualifiers remaining. Matchdays Three and Four will take place during the November international window, with the final two rounds scheduled for March 2027.
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