The preliminary round qualifiers for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania 2027 get underway this week, with 12 national teams set to compete for a place in the next stage of Africa’s premier football competition.
The six winners from this round will join 42 already-qualified nations in the group phase, where the battle for the 24 slots at the finals will intensify. Although these preliminary teams were the lowest-ranked sides at the time of the January draw, several of them bring valuable experience from previous campaigns and will be eager to make an impact.
Burundi (World Ranking: 145)
Burundi return to the qualifiers looking to recapture the form that took them to their only AFCON finals in 2019. They face Chad in a two-legged tie on March 27 (away) and March 31 (home). Despite their historic qualification, Burundi endured a difficult debut at the finals, losing all three group matches without scoring. They enter this tie on the back of four consecutive competitive defeats.
Chad (World Ranking: 178)
Chad have never reached the AFCON finals and have struggled historically in qualifiers, winning just 11 of 61 matches. They host Burundi on March 27 before travelling for the return leg. Their last competitive victory came over Mauritius in a previous qualifying campaign, and they will be hoping to end a long winless run in competitive fixtures.
Djibouti (World Ranking: 196)
Djibouti face South Sudan, with both legs scheduled in Juba on March 26 and March 29, effectively making both fixtures away games. They have never qualified for the AFCON finals and come into the tie on a poor run of eight consecutive defeats in competitive matches. Their last AFCON qualifying win dates back to 2017.
Eritrea (No FIFA Ranking)
Eritrea return to AFCON qualifiers for the first time since the 2008 preliminaries. They face Eswatini on March 25 (home) and March 31 (away). Despite limited recent activity, Eritrea have shown glimpses of potential in regional competitions, including notable wins at the CECAFA Cup. They have won five of their previous 25 qualifiers.
Eswatini (World Ranking: 159)
Eswatini continue their long search for a first AFCON finals appearance. They will take on Eritrea away on March 25 before hosting the return leg on March 31. While historically underwhelming in qualifiers, recent results—including draws against Cameroon and Angola—suggest improvement. They have won 10 of 73 qualifiers overall.
Ethiopia (World Ranking: 147)
Former AFCON champions Ethiopia face São Tomé and Príncipe on March 27 (away) and March 31 (home). Though they won the continental title in 1962, their modern record has been inconsistent, with only two finals appearances since 1984. However, recent victories over DR Congo and Guinea-Bissau highlight their ability to compete.
Lesotho (World Ranking: 143)
Lesotho are the highest-ranked team in the preliminary round and take on Seychelles on March 26 (away) and March 29 (home). Their recent World Cup qualifying performances, including a draw against Nigeria and wins over Zimbabwe, indicate strong form. However, they are still chasing a first-ever AFCON finals qualification.
Mauritius (World Ranking: 177)
Mauritius face Somalia on March 27 (away) and March 31 (home). Their only AFCON finals appearance came in 1974, where they exited in the group stage. Although results have been mixed, a recent draw against Libya in World Cup qualifying shows signs of competitiveness.
São Tomé and Príncipe (World Ranking: 189)
São Tomé and Príncipe meet Ethiopia in a two-legged tie on March 27 (home) and March 31 (away). They have never qualified for the AFCON finals but recorded a morale-boosting win over Malawi in recent World Cup qualifiers. Their goal will be to progress beyond this stage for the first time.
Seychelles (World Ranking: 203)
Seychelles, among the lowest-ranked sides, face Lesotho in a tough matchup on March 26 (home) and March 29 (away). They have won just five of their 42 qualifiers historically and are aiming to reach the group stage of qualifying again after last doing so in 2019.
Somalia (World Ranking: 200)
Somalia continue their quest for a first-ever AFCON finals appearance. They host Mauritius on March 27 before the return leg on March 31. After returning to qualifiers in recent editions following a long absence, Somalia will be targeting progression beyond the preliminary stage for the first time.
South Sudan (World Ranking: 168)
South Sudan face Djibouti on March 26 (away) and March 29 (home). Since joining AFCON qualifiers in 2015, they have shown steady progress, reaching the group stages in recent editions. With notable wins in past campaigns, they enter this tie with growing confidence.
As the preliminary round kicks off, the stakes are clear: six teams will advance, while the rest will see their AFCON 2027 dreams delayed. For many of these nations, the opening ties represent not just qualification matches, but opportunities to build momentum, gain experience, and make history on the continental stage.
