AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: DR Congo Take Early Control as Matchday Two Reshapes the Groups

DR Congo have emerged as one of the early pace-setters in qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after beating Zimbabwe 2–1 in Harare to make it two victories from their opening two matches.

The result was among the most significant developments as Matchday Two began to reshape the groups, with Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso also recording victories while Tunisia and Botswana shared the points in a 2–2 draw.

According to CAF, DR Congo took control of their match in Harare with two first-half goals, including a 30th-minute strike from Yoane Wissa, before holding on for the win.

Six points give DR Congo early momentum

Two wins from two do not settle a six-match qualification campaign, but they give DR Congo valuable early momentum and reduce the pressure on their remaining fixtures.

The opening two matchdays are particularly important because the qualifiers pause after this window before resuming in November. Teams that establish an early points advantage therefore carry a stronger position into the next phase of the campaign.

Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea gain ground

Burkina Faso and Equatorial Guinea also collected important Matchday Two victories as the early tables began to take shape. The results followed an opening round that produced several away wins, comebacks and dropped points for established contenders.

With 48 nations divided into 12 groups of four, qualification is contested on a home-and-away basis over six matchdays. The tournament finals will feature 24 teams.

Tunisia still searching for first win

Tunisia, meanwhile, remain without a victory after drawing 2–2 with Botswana in Radès. Hazem Mastouri scored twice for the hosts after Thatayaone Kgamanyane had put Botswana ahead, but Lebogang Ditsele equalised on the hour to secure a point for the visitors.

Both Tunisia and Botswana have two points from their opening two fixtures. The structure of Group H adds further pressure because Uganda are already qualified for the finals as co-hosts. Only the highest-placed team outside Uganda will advance from the group alongside them.

Host groups carry different qualification mathematics

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are automatically qualified as co-hosts but are participating in the qualifying competition. In each group containing a host, only the highest-placed non-host team joins the host at the finals.

That makes every point especially valuable for teams competing in those sections and means conventional second-place assumptions do not apply.

Matchday Two continues across the continent, so the broader qualification picture will keep changing as the remaining fixtures are completed. The confirmed results already show, however, how quickly an opening victory can become a meaningful early advantage when followed by a second win.

The AFCON PAMOJA 2027 finals will be staged in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

References

• CAF: DR Congo defeat Zimbabwe as Equatorial Guinea and Burkina Faso also post wins
• CAF: Tunisia and Botswana play to 2–2 draw
• CAF: AFCON 2027 Matchdays One and Two fixtures and qualification format