AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Senegal Hit Four as DR Congo Stay Perfect

DAKAR, Senegal, November 13, 2026: Senegal defeated Sudan 4-1 to take control of Group J, while DR Congo maintained its perfect qualifying record with a 3-1 victory over Sierra Leone as nine Africa Cup of Nations matches produced 26 goals across the continent on November 12. Ghana ended a three-year wait for an AFCON qualifying victory by beating Somalia 2-0, but Côte d’Ivoire’s 2-1 win over The Gambia kept the Black Stars six points behind the Group C leaders.

The third round of AFCON 2027 qualifiers also brought victories for Cameroon, Benin and Guinea, while Zimbabwe held Equatorial Guinea to a goalless draw and Madagascar denied Guinea-Bissau a third consecutive win. Seven teams secured three points, but the most significant development was the contrast between leaders strengthening their positions and traditional contenders trying to repair difficult starts. With return fixtures approaching, several countries now face direct opportunities to consolidate an advantage or recover lost ground.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: All Nine Results From November 12

The nine games generated 26 goals, an average of approximately 2.89 per match. Senegal and Benin recorded the largest victories by goal margin, while the scoreless encounter between Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe was the only match without a goal.

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Story at a glance

01

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: All Nine Results From November 12

The nine games generated 26 goals, an average of approximately 2.89 per match. Senegal and Benin recorded the largest victories by goal margin, while the scoreless encounter between Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe was the only match without a goal.

02

Senegal Beat Sudan 4-1 to Take Control of Group J

Senegal produced the most emphatic result among the leading Group J contenders, defeating Sudan 4-1 in Dakar.

03

DR Congo Maintain Perfect Record as Wissa Leads Early Scoring

DR Congo 3, Sierra Leone 1

04

Ghana End Three-Year Qualifying Wait, but Côte d’Ivoire Stay Six Points Clear

Ghana 2, Somalia 0

05

Cameroon Beat Namibia to Strengthen Group G Position

Cameroon 2, Namibia 0

The results form part of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, with the finals scheduled to take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17.

The Confederation of African Football’s official qualifying schedule confirms that Matchdays 3 and 4 comprise 48 fixtures between November 12 and 17.

Senegal Beat Sudan 4-1 to Take Control of Group J

Senegal produced the most emphatic result among the leading Group J contenders, defeating Sudan 4-1 in Dakar.

The victory took Patrick Vieira’s team to seven points from three games and moved the Lions of Teranga ahead of Mozambique, who had entered the round level with Senegal on four.

It also represented Senegal’s second consecutive qualifying victory after a relatively subdued start to the campaign.

Vieira began his competitive tenure with a 1-1 home draw against Mozambique, a result that prevented Senegal from opening with three points despite taking the lead through Nicolas Jackson.

His team then defeated Ethiopia 1-0 away, with Ibrahim Mbaye scoring the winner from Jackson’s pass.

Thursday’s four-goal performance provided a different type of result.

Senegal had previously shown that it could defend a narrow lead and collect points under pressure. Against Sudan, it demonstrated the attacking output needed to build a more convincing victory.

The margin was especially significant because Sudan entered the November window with three points and remained within reach of the group’s leading positions.

Sudan had beaten Ethiopia 1-0 in the opening round before suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat to Mozambique.

Conceding another four goals against Senegal has now left the Sudanese with consecutive three-goal defeats against their principal group rivals.

The concern is not restricted to the number of goals conceded. Sudan have struggled to prevent better-resourced attacking teams from creating enough opportunities to establish substantial margins.

Senegal’s next challenge is the return meeting with Sudan on November 16, when another victory would take Vieira’s team to ten points.

That would strengthen its position considerably, although qualification would still depend on the remaining fixtures and the results of its rivals.

Senegal’s improvement follows the challenges examined in The Sports Encounter’s opening-round report on Vieira’s first competitive match, when Mozambique prevented the former Arsenal midfielder from starting with a win.

DR Congo Maintain Perfect Record as Wissa Leads Early Scoring

DR Congo 3, Sierra Leone 1

DR Congo became the first team in Group E to reach nine points, defeating Sierra Leone 3-1 in Kinshasa to make it three victories from three qualifiers.

Yoane Wissa gave the Leopards an ideal start in the fourth minute, scoring after an assist from Nathanaël Mbuku.

Samuel Moutoussamy doubled the advantage in the 35th minute before Edo Kayembe added a third in the 58th.

Sierra Leone responded through S. Bekoe in the 83rd minute, but the late goal did not materially threaten the result.

The sequence demonstrated DR Congo’s ability to establish control early and convert that advantage into a comfortable lead before the closing stages.

Wissa’s contribution continues an impressive qualifying campaign.

He scored in the opening 2-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea and again during the 2-1 win away to Zimbabwe.

His goal against Sierra Leone made it three consecutive qualifying matches with a goal, giving DR Congo an attacking figure who has delivered consistently across different opponents.

The midfield contribution is equally important.

Moutoussamy and Kayembe supplied goals against Sierra Leone, demonstrating that opponents cannot concentrate exclusively on stopping Wissa.

The Leopards have scored seven goals and conceded twice across their opening three qualifiers.

That gives them a goal difference of +5 and a five-point advantage over Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea, who both have four points.

The CAF’s official report on DR Congo’s victory and the Group E draws confirms the score and the Leopards’ third successive win.

DR Congo’s Advantage Is Greater Than the Five-Point Gap Suggests

DR Congo’s lead reflects more than simply collecting nine points.

Its principal rivals are also taking points away from one another.

Equatorial Guinea and Zimbabwe drew 0-0 on the same day, meaning neither was able to reduce the gap through a victory.

Before the round, both teams were three points behind DR Congo. They now trail by five.

That is an important change because only three matches remain for each team.

DR Congo could move to 12 points by defeating Sierra Leone again on November 17. Although that would not automatically settle every possible qualification scenario, it would increase the pressure on Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea.

The circumstances were anticipated in TSE’s detailed preview of Ghana, DR Congo, Zimbabwe and Guinea-Bissau’s Matchday 3 challenges.

DR Congo have now converted that favorable position into another victory, while the two teams attempting to follow them have failed to separate themselves.

Ghana End Three-Year Qualifying Wait, but Côte d’Ivoire Stay Six Points Clear

Ghana 2, Somalia 0

Ghana finally earned its first points of the 2027 qualification campaign with a 2-0 victory over Somalia at Essipong Sports Stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi.

The result ended a winless run in Africa Cup of Nations qualifying dating back to November 2023.

It also gave interim coach Kim Lars Björkegren a victory in his first competitive game in charge following the departure of Carlos Queiroz.

However, the evening was not entirely comfortable for the Black Stars.

Captain Jordan Ayew missed a penalty before defender Jonas Adjetey broke the deadlock in first-half stoppage time.

Adjetey’s goal in the 45th minute plus added time changed the immediate pressure on Ghana, which had entered the match following consecutive defeats.

Felix Afena-Gyan doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute, establishing a two-goal cushion that Ghana protected through the final whistle.

The clean sheet was significant because Ghana had conceded six goals in its opening two qualifiers.

The Black Stars lost 2-0 to Côte d’Ivoire before suffering an even more damaging 4-2 home defeat against The Gambia.

Against Gambia, Ghana had led 2-0 before conceding four unanswered goals, exposing serious defensive vulnerabilities.

Thursday’s performance provided a response by combining a clean sheet with two goals from different players.

The CAF’s official Ghana-Somalia report confirms the goalscorers, the missed opportunity from the penalty spot and the end of Ghana’s lengthy qualifying winless run.

Why Ghana’s Recovery Has Not Resolved Its Qualification Crisis

Ghana’s win was necessary, but Côte d’Ivoire’s result against The Gambia prevented the Black Stars from making substantial progress toward the top two.

The Elephants defeated Gambia 2-1 in Bouaké, moving to nine points after three victories.

Malick Yalcouyé opened the scoring in the 17th minute, and Elye Wahi doubled the advantage in the 24th.

Musa Barrow reduced Gambia’s deficit before halftime, but Côte d’Ivoire preserved the lead.

That result created a three-point gap between Côte d’Ivoire and second-placed Gambia, while Ghana remain six behind the leaders and three behind the Scorpions.

Ghana face Somalia again on November 16, while Gambia host Côte d’Ivoire the following day.

Another Ghana victory would take the Black Stars to six points. Depending on the outcome of the other fixture, the gap between the teams competing for the second qualification place could narrow.

But Ghana’s opening defeats remain consequential, particularly because one came directly against The Gambia.

That 4-2 defeat was among the most dramatic results covered in TSE’s consolidated Matchday 2 qualifying report.

Ghana have stopped the immediate losing sequence. They have not yet regained control of their route to the finals.

Cameroon Beat Namibia to Strengthen Group G Position

Cameroon 2, Namibia 0

Cameroon secured a 2-0 victory against Namibia, moving to seven points from three matches and strengthening its position at the top of Group G.

The result followed a 3-1 opening victory over Comoros and a 1-1 draw away to Congo.

Cameroon’s qualifying record now stands at two wins and one draw, with six goals scored and two conceded.

For Namibia, the defeat represented another setback after an encouraging start.

The Brave Warriors defeated Congo 1-0 in their opening qualifier but lost their second match 1-0 against Comoros.

Thursday’s defeat means Namibia have now lost twice without scoring after their initial victory.

The scoring difficulty is a concern because Cameroon, Comoros and Namibia had been closely grouped after the opening two rounds.

Cameroon have now created a four-point lead over Namibia before the return match on November 16.

The Indomitable Lions have also demonstrated an ability to collect points through different match situations.

They defeated Comoros by two goals, recovered from a deficit to draw against Congo and then secured a clean-sheet victory over Namibia.

That variety is encouraging, although Comoros remain capable of narrowing the gap when they play Congo.

Benin Hit Four Against Central African Republic

Benin 4, Central African Republic 1

Benin matched Senegal’s three-goal winning margin by defeating Central African Republic 4-1.

The victory lifted Benin to seven points from three matches and temporarily strengthened its position in Group F before Burkina Faso’s fixture against Mauritania.

Benin opened qualifying with a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso before beating Mauritania 2-1.

Thursday’s result extended its unbeaten start and represented its most productive attacking performance of the campaign.

Central African Republic, meanwhile, have now lost three consecutive qualifiers.

The visitors opened with a 3-1 defeat against Mauritania, followed by a 1-0 loss at home to Burkina Faso.

Conceding four against Benin has deepened their defensive difficulties and left them without a point at the halfway stage.

For Benin, the result provides an opportunity to build a substantial advantage when the teams meet again on November 16.

But the race in Group F remains open because Burkina Faso entered the November window level with Benin on four points, while Mauritania had three.

Benin’s seven-point total is therefore an important advantage, not confirmation of qualification.

Guinea Beat Eritrea to Keep Pressure on South Africa

Guinea 2, Eritrea 1

Guinea collected its second consecutive qualifying victory, defeating Eritrea 2-1 and moving to six points in Group D.

The result continued its recovery following a 2-1 opening defeat to South Africa.

Guinea responded to that setback by beating co-host Kenya 1-0 before overcoming Eritrea.

Its six-point total is particularly significant because Group D has a different qualification structure from most other sections.

Kenya qualify automatically as one of the tournament’s three hosts, leaving only one additional qualification place available among South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea.

Guinea’s victory therefore keeps it directly competitive in the race for that position.

South Africa began the campaign with wins over Guinea and Eritrea, giving Bafana Bafana six points ahead of their third fixture against Kenya.

Guinea and South Africa were consequently level on points after Thursday’s result, although they had played different numbers of matches.

The forthcoming South Africa-Kenya fixture will provide further clarity about the balance of Group D.

Guinea face Eritrea again on November 16, presenting an opportunity to move to nine points before their March qualifying fixtures.

Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea Draw as DR Congo Pull Away

Equatorial Guinea 0, Zimbabwe 0

Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea shared the points in a goalless draw, a result that benefited DR Congo more than either of the two teams involved.

Both countries began Matchday 3 with three points.

Neither was able to establish a direct advantage, leaving them level on four after three matches.

Zimbabwe had opened qualifying with a dramatic 3-2 comeback against Sierra Leone before losing 2-1 to DR Congo.

Equatorial Guinea lost 2-0 against the Leopards but recovered through a 1-0 victory over Sierra Leone.

The draw maintained the narrow separation between the two teams while allowing DR Congo to extend its lead to five points.

That is why the result carries greater significance than a routine goalless qualifier.

Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea were competing to improve their positions behind a leader that had already won twice.

Instead, both dropped two potential points on a day when DR Congo collected another three.

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The reverse meeting in Zimbabwe on November 16 now becomes more important.

A victory for either side would create a three-point advantage over the other, assuming both enter that fixture with their current four-point totals.

Zimbabwe’s earlier recovery against Sierra Leone, including Marshall Munetsi’s decisive contributions, was examined in TSE’s opening-night report on the remarkable 3-2 comeback.

Zimbabwe have shown that they can recover from difficult positions. They now need to convert that resilience into wins if they are to challenge DR Congo.

Madagascar Hold Guinea-Bissau in Group L’s Unusual Qualification Race

Madagascar 1, Guinea-Bissau 1

Guinea-Bissau failed to extend its perfect start to three matches after drawing 1-1 with Madagascar.

Warren Caddy gave Madagascar the lead in the 59th minute before Roger Nhaga equalized for Guinea-Bissau in the 84th.

The late equalizer prevented Madagascar from securing its first victory of the campaign.

However, the result also represented the first dropped points for Guinea-Bissau, who had entered the contest with six points and no goals conceded.

The leaders previously defeated Tanzania 2-0 and stunned Nigeria 3-0, producing one of the outstanding results of the opening two qualifying rounds.

Guinea-Bissau now have seven points from three matches, while Madagascar have two.

Those totals require particular attention because Tanzania’s status as a co-host changes the qualification calculation.

Only the highest-finishing non-host team from Group L can qualify alongside Tanzania.

Guinea-Bissau therefore compete principally against Nigeria and Madagascar for the remaining position.

Nigeria entered the November window with three points and were scheduled to face Tanzania on November 13.

Madagascar’s late concession was costly because a victory would have reduced the gap to Guinea-Bissau to two points. Instead, the leaders remain five ahead.

The reverse meeting on November 17 gives Madagascar another opportunity, but its margin for error is narrowing.

How the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Changed Across the Key Groups

The significance of Thursday’s nine results is clearest when comparing the positions of the leading contenders.

The table records each group’s position at the conclusion of the November 12 fixtures. Other teams in these groups still had matches scheduled for November 13 or 14, so the standings are not a completed Matchday 3 table across every section.

The clearest improvement belongs to DR Congo, which combined another victory with dropped points by both immediate rivals.

Senegal, Benin and Cameroon also strengthened their positions, but their closest competitors still have opportunities to respond.

Ghana’s recovery presents a different story. Its first three points are important, but the Black Stars cannot reach the top two without improving their results and reducing the gap to the teams above them.

In Group L, Guinea-Bissau remain well placed, although their first conceded goal and first draw have ended the exceptional defensive sequence that defined their opening two matches.

What the Return Fixtures Could Decide

The next set of qualifiers features several immediate rematches, giving teams opportunities to reinforce Thursday’s results or reverse them.

These reverse fixtures are particularly consequential because six qualifying matches, rather than a lengthy league season, determine the outcome for each team.

Collecting six points from consecutive meetings with the same opponent can significantly change a qualification campaign within a few days.

Ghana have a direct example. Two victories over Somalia would take them to six points, although their earlier defeats would continue to matter.

DR Congo could reach 12 points by defeating Sierra Leone again, substantially increasing the burden on its competitors.

Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea face the opposite situation. Having shared the points in their first meeting, they must now decide the direct contest through another match.

For Guinea-Bissau, preserving its advantage over Madagascar is important because the group contains an automatically qualified host.

CAF’s official competition information confirms that Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will stage the finals, creating different qualification conditions in the groups containing those countries.

Nine Results, Three Different Qualification Stories

Thursday’s matches demonstrated how quickly the balance of African qualifying can change.

Senegal, Benin and Cameroon produced results that improved their positions and gave them momentum entering the return fixtures.

DR Congo took an even more significant step by reaching nine points while Zimbabwe and Equatorial Guinea shared the points.

Côte d’Ivoire’s victory over Gambia strengthened its control of Group C, meaning Ghana’s return to winning form has not yet translated into a major improvement in its standing.

Madagascar’s draw against Guinea-Bissau illustrates another difficulty. Taking a point from the leaders was useful, but conceding an 84th-minute equalizer meant missing an opportunity to narrow the qualification gap more substantially.

The next matches will determine whether these results become the foundations of successful qualification campaigns or simply another stage in increasingly competitive group races.

After nine games, 26 goals and several important changes in position, the AFCON 2027 qualifiers have moved beyond their opening phase. The leading teams are beginning to separate themselves, but the countries behind them still have direct opportunities to influence the standings before qualification concludes.