In an exhilarating kickoff to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 qualifiers, Algeria and Morocco both celebrated victories, while Egypt faced a frustrating draw against Angola. The matches held on Friday, 26 September 2026, showcased the competitive spirit of African football as teams vied for early points in this prestigious tournament.

Algeria's journey began with a significant 3-1 win over Zambia, marking a successful debut for their new coach, Brahim Hamdani. The Algerian squad initially surged ahead when Jaouen Hadjam found the back of the net just two minutes into the match. Despite Zambia equalizing in the 57th minute through Fashion Sakala, Algeria quickly regained the lead thanks to Ibrahim Maza, who scored in the 67th minute. Anis Hadj Moussa sealed the victory with a third goal in the 74th minute, providing the Desert Foxes with a comfortable cushion as they maintained their advantage until the final whistle.

Morocco mirrored Algeria's success with a 2-0 victory over Gabon in Group A. The Atlas Lions took the lead in the 36th minute through Noussair Mazraoui, who capitalized on a defensive lapse to score. Gabon, striving to mount a comeback, struggled to penetrate Morocco's solid defense. Soufiane Rahimi added a second goal in the 84th minute, ensuring Morocco also walked away with three points, placing them alongside Niger, who had earlier defeated Lesotho 2-1.

In stark contrast, Egypt, the seven-time African champions, were left disappointed as they managed only a goalless draw against Angola. Despite dominating possession and coming close to scoring—most notably when Mostafa Zico's goal was disallowed for offside—Egypt was unable to break through Angola's resolute defense. The match ended with both teams sharing the spoils, leaving Egypt with a point from their opening fixture.

Other notable results from the qualifiers included Mali's impressive 3-1 victory over Cape Verde, where Nini Dorgeles shone with two goals. Meanwhile, Burkina Faso and Benin ended their match in a 1-1 stalemate, with both teams earning a point as they began their campaigns.

This opening round of qualifiers has set the stage for an intriguing AFCON 2027, with teams demonstrating their ambitions and capabilities. As the tournament progresses, fans can expect more thrilling matches and dramatic moments.

As reported by cafonline.com.