The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series began on Thursday with eight Match Day 1 fixtures played across the continent, with Nigeria set to begin their campaign against Madagascar on Friday (today).

The Super Eagles will host Madagascar at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo, in Group L, with kick-off scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.

Nigeria are drawn alongside Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and co-hosts Tanzania, who are already guaranteed a place at the 2027 AFCON finals.

The arrangement means only the highest-placed team among Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau will secure the remaining qualification spot from Group L.

Nigeria’s second Group L fixture will be away to Guinea-Bissau on Tuesday, while Madagascar will face Tanzania.

Thursday’s results

Group C
Côte d’Ivoire 2-0 Ghana

The Elephants opened their campaign with a comfortable victory over Ghana, with Malick Yalcouyé and Franck Kessié scoring for the hosts.

Group E
DR Congo 2-0 Equatorial Guinea

Chancel Mbemba gave DR Congo an early lead before Yoane Wissa doubled the advantage in the second half.

Group E
Sierra Leone 2-3 Zimbabwe

Sierra Leone led 2-0 at half-time through Alie Conteh and Sallieu Tarawallie, but Zimbabwe mounted a second-half comeback. Marshall Munetsi scored twice, while Tawanda Chirewa also found the net to secure a 3-2 victory.

Group F
Mauritania 3-1 Central African Republic

Mauritania recovered from a first-half setback to claim a 3-1 victory, with Aboubakary Koïta, Dawda Camara and Mamadou Diallo scoring for the hosts.

Group G
Namibia 1-0 Congo

Bethuel Muzeu scored in the 47th minute as Namibia began their campaign with a narrow victory.

Group G
Cameroon 3-1 Comoros

David Roy Nyengue, Bryan Mbeumo and Daniel Namaso scored as Cameroon secured a 3-1 win, with Comoros briefly reducing the deficit through a free-kick goal.

Group H
Tunisia 1-1 Uganda

Tunisia were held to a 1-1 draw by Uganda, with Ali Arous putting the hosts ahead before Rogers Mato equalised for the visitors.

Group H
Libya 2-2 Botswana

Botswana surrendered a two-goal lead as Libya fought back to earn a point. Tumisang Orebonye scored twice for Botswana before Maruwan Alhibeeshi and Ezoo El Mariamy, from the penalty spot in stoppage time, levelled the contest.

Friday’s fixtures

Group A: Niger v Lesotho, Morocco v Gabon
Group B: Malawi v South Sudan, Egypt v Angola
Group C: Gambia v Somalia
Group F: Burkina Faso v Benin
Group I: Togo v Burundi, Algeria v Zambia
Group J: Sudan v Ethiopia, Senegal v Mozambique
Group K: Rwanda v Liberia, Mali v Cape Verde
Group L: Tanzania v Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria v Madagascar

The Match Day 1 programme will be completed on Saturday with Kenya facing Eritrea and South Africa taking on Guinea.