The road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations officially got underway on Wednesday with the commencement of the first-leg matches in the preliminary round of the qualifiers.
Eritrea made a strong statement on their return to international football, securing a comfortable 2-0 victory over Eswatini in a match played in Morocco.
The result marked a significant moment for the East African nation, which is featuring in international football again after an 18-year absence.
The preliminary round is set to determine the teams that will advance into the group stage of the qualifiers, where the race for a place at the continental showpiece will intensify.
Meanwhile, the 2027 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, as the three East African nations prepare to stage one of the continent’s biggest football tournaments.
