U23 AFCON qualifiers: Tunisia vs Benin, Rwanda vs Sudan, the full draw

The draw for the U23 AFCON qualifiers has been made. Also in the running for the final phase, Benin has been paired with Tunisia. Facing the Carthage Eagles, the Beninese will play their first round on September 28 and October 6, 2026, with the aim of securing a place in the next stage of the competition.

Several other fixtures also stand out, notably the clash between Togo and Libya. The highest-ranked sides, including Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Morocco, Senegal and Algeria, will enter the competition in the second round, scheduled for November 9 and 17. In all, seven teams will join Egypt, which qualified automatically as host of the final phase. The remaining places will be decided in the third round, set for March 22 and 30, 2027.

U23 AFCON qualifying draw results:

First round (September 28 and October 6):

Sierra Leone vs Burkina Faso

Mauritania vs DR Congo

Sao Tome vs Equatorial Guinea

Togo vs Libya

Tunisia vs Benin

Kenya vs Tanzania

Djibouti vs South Sudan

Ethiopia vs Uganda

Rwanda vs Sudan

Comoros vs Madagascar

Angola vs Namibia

Seychelles vs Botswana

Malawi vs Eswatini

Zimbabwe vs Mauritius

Second round (November 9 and 17, 2026):

Sierra Leone/Burkina Faso vs Zambia

Mauritania/DR Congo vs Nigeria

Sao Tome/Equatorial Guinea vs Nigeria

Togo/Libya vs Ghana

Tunisia/Benin vs Gabon

Kenya/Tanzania vs Cote d’Ivoire

Djibouti/South Sudan vs Senegal

Ethiopia/Uganda vs Morocco

Rwanda/Sudan vs Cameroon

Comoros/Madagascar vs South Africa

Angola/Namibia vs Congo

Seychelles/Botswana vs Guinea

Malawi/Eswatini vs Algeria

Zimbabwe/Mauritius vs Mali

Third round (March 22 and 30, 2027):

Sierra Leone/Burkina Faso/Zambia vs Mauritania/DR Congo/Nigeria

Sao Tome/Equatorial Guinea/Niger vs Togo/Libya/Ghana

Tunisia/Benin/Gabon vs Kenya/Tanzania/Cote d’Ivoire

Djibouti/South Sudan/Senegal vs Ethiopia/Uganda/Morocco

Rwanda/Sudan/Cameroon vs Comoros/Madagascar/South Africa

Angola/Namibia/Congo vs Seychelles/Botswana/Guinea

Malawi/Eswatini/Algeria vs Zimbabwe/Mauritius/Mali