AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Matchday 2 Preview: Egypt and Senegal Look to Respond, Ghana Already Under Pressure

Matchday 1 has barely finished, but there is almost no time to sit with the mistakes. Most of the second round of AFCON 2027 qualifying takes place on September 29, with several fixtures extending the schedule into early October. The 888STARZ line once again makes the favourites fairly obvious, although after Egypt and Senegal both dropped points in their openers, short prices look a little less reassuring than they did a few days ago.

Egypt now travel to South Sudan. Senegal, after drawing 1–1 with Mozambique, face Ethiopia away. Ghana go into Matchday 2 with zero points and host a Gambia side that already have a win on the board.

Morocco and Algeria, meanwhile, have a chance to build quickly on perfect starts. Kenya face a tougher test after their difficult draw with Eritrea, travelling to Guinea.

The main Matchday 2 programme runs from September 28 to October 1, with Angola vs Malawi moved to October 6.

888STARZ odds were recorded on September 28 via the current public comparison line and may change before kick-off.

South Sudan vs Egypt: After 0–0 in Cairo, There Is Little Room for Another Slip

Egypt entered qualifying as overwhelming favourites in their group, but the opening game has already changed the mood.

A 0–0 home draw with Angola left Hossam Hassan’s side on one point, while Malawi moved ahead immediately after beating South Sudan 2–1. Egypt now travel to the same team that began qualifying with a defeat.

This is already a different kind of test.

In Cairo, the draw could be explained through missed chances and one frustrating night. If Egypt drop points again here, what looked like a straightforward qualification campaign could quickly become a chase.

The market still has little doubt about the favourite.

888STARZ:
South Sudan — 14.40 | Draw — 6.00 | Egypt — 1.19

So after failing to win at 1.46, Egypt now go off at an even shorter price.

That is what makes the game interesting. The question is not really which team has more quality, but whether Egypt can finally turn that advantage into three points.

Ghana vs Gambia: Matchday 2 Already Feels Like a Must-Win

Ghana’s start was painful.

The 2–0 defeat to Ivory Coast left them without a point, while Gambia opened with a 2–1 victory over Somalia and arrive in very different spirits.

That is where the table starts adding pressure.

Ghana are at home and remain favourites, but another dropped point could create a worrying gap after only two matches — especially if Ivory Coast take care of Somalia elsewhere in the group.

Gambia, by contrast, do not need to force the game. They already have three points, and a draw away to Ghana would look far more valuable from their perspective.

888STARZ:
Ghana — 1.63 | Draw — 3.68 | Gambia — 5.17

This is one of the more interesting prices of Matchday 2 because the gap is not enormous.

Ghana are favourites, but after the opening defeat, simply looking like the better side will not be enough. They need the result.

Ethiopia vs Senegal: Vieira Gets a Second Chance to Start Properly

Senegal were expected to begin Patrick Vieira’s era with three points.

Instead, they drew 1–1 with Mozambique despite being priced at 1.19 to win.

The next opponent looks more comfortable on paper. Ethiopia lost 1–0 to Sudan and also enter Matchday 2 without a win. After the opening round, Sudan unexpectedly sit alone at the top of Group J.

The odds are still in Senegal’s favour, but they are no longer quite as extreme.

888STARZ:
Ethiopia — 5.12 | Draw — 3.80 | Senegal — 1.61

Senegal remain clear favourites, but the market gives Ethiopia noticeably more room than it gave Mozambique a few days ago.

After the opening slip, that feels understandable.

Vieira’s side do not need a statement performance here. They need three points and a response before Sudan are allowed to build too much early momentum.

Three More Games Worth Watching

Lesotho vs Morocco: the Gap Is Almost as Wide as It Gets

Morocco started exactly as expected: 2–0 against Gabon, a clean sheet and very little drama.

Lesotho, meanwhile, lost 2–1 to Niger, although a late Sera Motebang penalty kept them alive until the closing stages.

That leaves Morocco and Niger on three points, with their two opponents still on zero.

The Matchday 2 market is brutal.

888STARZ:
Lesotho — 55.00 | Draw — 13.50 | Morocco — 1.03

It is the widest gap among the games we selected.

The question is no longer who the market sees as favourite. It is how comfortably Morocco handle their first away game of the new cycle.

Burundi vs Algeria: Hemdani Can Reach Six Points Quickly

Algeria began convincingly with a 3–1 win over Zambia.

Burundi lost their opener 1–0 to Togo, so after one round the teams are already at opposite ends of the early Group I table: Algeria and Togo have three points, Burundi and Zambia have none.

Now Brahim Hemdani’s side face their first away match.

888STARZ:
Burundi — 10.50 | Draw — 5.10 | Algeria — 1.27

One of the most encouraging parts of Algeria’s opener was their reaction after Zambia equalised.

At 1–1, they did not lose control. They quickly restored the lead and closed the game out at 3–1.

The challenge in Burundi could look very different: less space, more physical play and an opponent already under pressure for points.

Guinea vs Kenya: a Winless Host Against an AFCON Host Nation

Kenya are back in our selection for obvious reasons.

Their opener against Eritrea was far harder than expected, with Ryan Ogam’s 87th-minute goal rescuing a 1–1 draw.

Guinea had an even worse start. They lost 2–1 to South Africa, conceding the decisive goal in the 77th minute.

That leaves South Africa on three points, Kenya and Eritrea on one each, and Guinea bottom of the group.

There is another important detail here. Because Kenya have already qualified for AFCON 2027 as hosts, only the best team among South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea can claim the additional qualifying place from the group.

That makes the pressure on Guinea much greater.

A public market is already available for the match, but we still do not have a separately confirmed 888STARZ line. As in Matchday 1 with Kenya, we will not attach another bookmaker’s prices to the brand.

For Kenya, it remains an important test after an unconvincing opener: this time away from home, against a team that can barely afford another poor result.

Key AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Matchday 2 Fixtures

Matchday 1 was mostly about how new coaches and refreshed squads would enter qualifying. The context is already different now.

Egypt and Senegal need to respond to dropped points. Ghana, after losing their opener, can hardly afford another poor result.

Morocco and Algeria, on the other hand, have the opportunity to move quickly onto six points and create a comfortable early cushion.

Kenya travel to Guinea after an uneasy 1–1 draw with Eritrea, facing a team for whom this match matters much more in the race for the only available qualifying place from the group.

The first round already showed that even the most obvious pre-match scenario does not always survive 90 minutes.

Matchday 2 will show who learned quickly enough.