AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: South Africa–Guinea and Burkina Faso–Benin Headline Groups D–F
Photo: CAF
South Africa begin a new era under Pitso Mosimane against Guinea, while Burkina Faso face neighbours Benin, as AFCON PAMOJA 2027 qualifying continues across Groups D, E and F.
South Africa begin a new era under Pitso Mosimane against Guinea, while Burkina Faso take on neighbours Benin, as the opening two matchdays of Groups D, E and F qualifying take place between 24 September and 1 October.
Group D carries an added wrinkle: co-host Kenya are already qualified, so only the highest-placed non-host team joins them at the finals — a rule that turns South Africa v Guinea into effectively a straight play-off for the group's only other spot.
Mosimane begins South Africa's return against Guinea
Group D opens with perhaps its most significant fixture when South Africa host Guinea on 26 September. Mosimane, beginning his third spell in charge of Bafana Bafana after succeeding Hugo Broos, has kept the core of his recent squad while introducing five uncapped players — Lebone Seema, Brooklyn Poggenpoel, Yanela Mbuthuma, Puso Dithejane and Tashreeq Matthews. Ronwen Williams, Teboho Mokoena and Themba Zwane remain among the experienced figures.
Guinea travel with Borussia Dortmund striker Serhou Guirassy expected to lead their attack, alongside returnees Ilaix Moriba, Madiou Keïta and Saïdou Sow.
Kenya, meanwhile, host Eritrea the same day — a 24-man squad captained by Michael Olunga using the qualifiers to prepare for a tournament they're already guaranteed to play in. South Africa's second fixture is against Eritrea in Cairo on 30 September, while Guinea host Kenya on 1 October.
Group E: DR Congo host Equatorial Guinea in an open section
Group E begins on 24 September with DR Congo hosting Equatorial Guinea, while Sierra Leone face Zimbabwe. Unlike Group D, there's no automatic qualifier here — the top two after six rounds advance, making this section genuinely open.
Twice African champions DR Congo will hope home advantage counts against an increasingly competitive Equatorial Guinea side. Matchday two sees Equatorial Guinea host Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe welcome DR Congo — meaning every side will have played once at home and once away after the opening window, an early indication of just how tight this group could become.
Group F: Neighbours Burkina Faso and Benin collide
Group F opens with a West African derby between Burkina Faso and Benin on 25 September. Burkina Faso coach Amir Abdou has handed first call-ups to four players — Ismaël Maïga, Julien Bationo, Mamoutou Ouédraogo and Axel Taonsa — while retaining established figures Edmond Tapsoba, Nasser Djiga, Issa Kaboré, Dango Ouattara and Lassina Traoré.
Benin coach Gernot Rohr has introduced an in-form newcomer of his own: Joseph Ede Oloko, who has scored 26 goals and provided six assists in 30 matches for Latvian side Liepaja this season. Benin will be without injured captain Steve Mounié and suspended defender Olivier Verdon.
Mauritania and Central African Republic meet in the group's other opening fixture in Casablanca, with Mauritania fielding a 27-man squad featuring established names Aboubakary Koita, Mohsine Bodda and Ali Abeid alongside first-cap defender Abdellahi Ba.
Matchday two could quickly reshape the group: Central African Republic face Burkina Faso in Casablanca on 28 September, while Benin meet Mauritania in Abidjan the following day.
Matchdays 1 & 2 fixtures
Group D: 26 Sept — South Africa v Guinea; Kenya v Eritrea. 30 Sept — Eritrea v South Africa. 1 Oct — Guinea v Kenya.
Group E: 24 Sept — DR Congo v Equatorial Guinea; Sierra Leone v Zimbabwe. 28 Sept — Equatorial Guinea v Sierra Leone; Zimbabwe v DR Congo.
Group F: 24 Sept — Mauritania v Central African Republic. 25 Sept — Burkina Faso v Benin. 28 Sept — Central African Republic v Burkina Faso. 29 Sept — Benin v Mauritania.
Six matches, little room for error
With just six qualifying matches available to each team across these three groups, the opening double-header offers almost no margin for a slow start — especially for South Africa and Guinea, effectively fighting for one spot from the very first whistle.
Whichever teams make it through, the Cantravu Experience Card covers every experience across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda on a single prepaid card for PAMOJA 2027.
Fixture and squad information sourced from CAF's official announcements, 16 September 2026.
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