Sports
Afcon 2027 qualifying begins as Renard and Vieira launch new coaching eras
September 23, 2026 at 07:59 PM · Updated 23d ago
Coverage
4 reports · 2 in Arabic, 2 in English · over 10 hours
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
مدربون جدد في تصفيات أمم أفريقيا.. وفييرا أبرز الوجوه
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera English
Diomande stars as Ivory Coast and Ghana begin AFCON 2027 path – all to know
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Afcon 2027: Patrick Vieira and Herve Renard begin qualifying campaigns
(opens the publisher’s site)
AJAl Jazeera Arabic
اختبارات عربية قوية وصدام تكتيكي بين رونار وكيروش بافتتاح تصفيات أمم أفريقيا 2027
(opens the publisher’s site)Qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations opens Thursday with 48 nations contesting two rounds of matches in an extended international window.
- Renard starts his second Ivory Coast stint at home against Ghana, whose coach Carlos Queiroz is without the injured Mohammed Kudus.
- Vieira begins his first international job in charge of Senegal, opening with away fixtures against Mozambique and Ethiopia.
- Pitso Mosimane has been reappointed South Africa coach 14 years after his last spell in charge of the national team.
- Eritrea return to the group stage for the first time since the 2008 qualifiers after a 4-1 aggregate win over Eswatini.
- The Group C opener will be played at Stade de Bouake, with Real Madrid's Yan Diomande leading Ivory Coast and Antoine Semenyo featuring for Ghana.
- 21 national teams begin qualifying under new coaches, including Aliou Cisse at Angola and 78-year-old Claude Le Roy returning to lead Congo.