AFCON2027Q: Mbeumo fires Cameroon to victory, Zimbabwe’s Wolves devour Sierra Leone, Uganda stun Tunisia

Even though all eyes were on the derby clash between Ivory Coast and Ghana, the other opening games of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers were anything but disappointing. Quite the contrary, there were plenty of interesting and surprising results.##TWITTER_<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Perfect start. 🌟<br><br>Results of the day in the <a href="https://x.com/hashtag/TotalEnergiesAFCON2027?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#TotalEnergiesAFCON2027</a> Qualifiers. 🌍 <a href="https://t.co/EsMjdsmqnw">pic.twitter.com/EsMjdsmqnw</a></p>&mdash; CAF (@CAF_Online) <a href="https://x.com/CAF_Online/status/2103232961084866763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>##First and foremost, Cameroon proved worthy of their favourites tag, beating the Comoros 3-1 at home.The 24-year-old David Nyengue opened the scoring in the 39th minute on his international debut, while the new Indomitable Lions captain, Bryan Mbeumo, doubled the home team's lead just three minutes into the second half.The visitors managed to pull one back through Warmed Omari in the 51st minute, but Danny Namaso's 81st-minute goal put the result beyond doubt.This victory saw Cameroon join Namibia at the top of Group G, as the Brave Warriors had beaten the Republic of Congo 1-0 at home earlier yesterday.##LINKED_NEWS_69314##The greatest comeback was seen in Morocco, where Zimbabwe pulled off a miracle against Sierra Leone, overturning a two-goal deficit at the break to win 3-2!Even though Alie Conteh in the seventh minute and Sallieu Tarawallie 20 minutes later seemed to have put the Leone Stars on course for victory, Zimbabwe's Wolves refused to back down.Instead, they fought back and staged an incredible comeback, as Marshall Munetsi, with a brace and Tawanda Chirewa – both Wolverhampton players – shocked Sierra Leone to earn the Warriors three vital points.Finally, Uganda pulled off the biggest upset of the night, holding the mighty Tunisia to a 1-1 draw away from home!When the Eagles of Carthage broke the deadlock through Adem Arous in the 12nd minute, everyone expected them to cruise to victory. After all, Uganda have qualified automatically as one of the three hosts.However, Paul Put's men had nothing to lose and gave it their all, eventually salvaging a point thanks to Rogers Mato's 68th-minute leveller.Libya and Botswana had an opportunity to capitalise on Tunisia's slip-up and take top spot in Group H, but they played out a 2-2 draw, with the Mediterranean Knights coming back from two goals down at the break, leaving all four teams level on one point after the opening round.2027 AFCON QUALIFIERSRound 1ThursdayNamibia – Congo 1-0 (0-0)/Muzeu 47/DR Congo – Equatiorial Guinea 2-0 (1-0)/Mbemba 4, Wissa 72/Libya – Botswana 2-2 (0-2)/Al Hbeishi 87, Al Mariami 90+6 pen – Orebonye 30,42/Mauritania – CAR 3-1 (1-0)/Koita 32 pen, Camara 69, Diallo 89 – Koyalipou 48/Cameroon – Comoros 2-1 (1-0)/Nyengue 39, Mbeumo 48, Namaso 81 – Omari 51/Ivory Coast – Ghana 2-0 (1-0)/Yalcouye 44, Kessie 58 pen/Sierra Leone – Zimbabwe 2-3 (2-0)/Conteh 7, Tarawallie 27 – Munetsi 72,88, Chireva 76/Tunisia – Uganda 1-1 (1-0)/Arous 12 – Mato 68/Friday16.00: (2.40) Tanzania (2.70) Guinea-Bissau (3.40)18.00: (1.55) Niger (3.50) Lesotho (6.75)19.00: (1.15) Gambia (7.00) Somalia (15.0)19.00: (1.67) Malawi (3.45) South Sudan (5.20)19.00: (1.20) Nigeria (5.80) Madagascar (13.0)19.00: (1.80) Rwanda (3.35) Liberia (4.40)19.00: (1.77) Sudan (3.35) Ethiopia (4.60)19.00: (1.58) Togo (3.45) Burundi (6.25)22.00: (1.23) Algeria (5.50) Zambia (12.0)22.00: (1.50) Burkina Faso (3.60) Benin (7.25)22.00: (1.38) Egypt (4.20) Angola (8.50)22.00: (2.00) Mali (3.05) Cabo Verde (3.90)22.00: (1.18) Morocco (6.50) Gabon (13.0)22.00: (1.25) Senegal (5.20) Mozambique (11.0)Saturday16.00: (1.40) Kenya (4.20) Eritrea (7.75)19.00: (1.85) S.Africa (3.30) Guinea (4.20)***odds are subject to change***##SOFASCORE_<iframe id="sofa-standings-embed-59845-90940" src="https://widgets.sofascore.com/embed/tournament/59845/season/90940/standings?widgetTitle=Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Qualification+2027%2C+Group+G&showCompetitionLogo=true&widgetTheme=light" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important; height:431px!important;max-width:768px!important;"></iframe><div style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left"> Standings provided by <a target="_blank" href="https://sofascore.com/">Sofascore</a> </div>####SOFASCORE_<iframe id="sofa-standings-embed-59844-90940" src="https://widgets.sofascore.com/embed/tournament/59844/season/90940/standings?widgetTitle=Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Qualification+2027%2C+Group+E&showCompetitionLogo=true&widgetTheme=light" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important; height:431px!important;max-width:768px!important;"></iframe><div style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left"> Standings provided by <a target="_blank" href="https://sofascore.com/">Sofascore</a> </div>####SOFASCORE_<iframe id="sofa-standings-embed-59837-90940" src="https://widgets.sofascore.com/embed/tournament/59837/season/90940/standings?widgetTitle=Africa+Cup+of+Nations+Qualification+2027%2C+Group+H&showCompetitionLogo=true&widgetTheme=light" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="width:100%!important; height:431px!important;max-width:768px!important;"></iframe><div style="font-size:12px;font-family:Arial,sans-serif;text-align:left"> Standings provided by <a target="_blank" href="https://sofascore.com/">Sofascore</a> </div>##