The race for the final six places of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Pamoja 2027 reaches a decisive stage starting this weekend, with six play-off second-leg matches set to determine the final six teams to join the main qualifiers of the competition.
Following a thrilling first-leg round, all twelve teams remain in contention, although South Sudan, Burundi and Ethiopia hold commanding advantages after their dominant 4-0 victories over Djibouti and Chad and 3-0 win over Sao Tome and Principe respectively.
The Bright Stars who also visited Djibouti in Juba in the first leg will look to protect their 4-0 goal cushion at the same venue again on Sunday.
The same applies to Burundi who will host Chad in Bujumbura on Tuesday as overwhelming favourites to get to the main stage of the qualifiers.
Ethiopia are also back home hosting Sao Tome and Principe after they won 3-0 away from home.
Elsewhere, the remaining three ties are delicately poised, promising high drama.
Somalia and Mauritius drew goalless and with the latter hosting the second leg in Pierre, they will hope to utilize home advantage.
Another stand out fixture sees Lesotho and Seychelles face off at Free state stadium in Bloemfontein following a goalless draw at the same venue last week as either aims to get the desired goals.
One of the standout fixtures sees record champions Eswatini host Eritrea in Lobamba. Eritrea hold a slender 2-0 advantage from the first leg Eswatini will look to overturn this deficit and this ensures that the tie remains wide open.
The 2nd Leg fixtures [All Times EAT]
Sunday March 29, 2026 fixtures
- Lesotho vs Seychelles – Free state stadium, Bloemfontein 6pm
- South Sudan vs Djibouti – Juba stadium, Juba 4pm
Tuesday March 31, 2026
- Eswatini vs Eritrea – Somhlolo National Stadium, Lobamba 5pm
- Mauritius vs Somalia – National Sports Complex, Saint Pierre 6pm
- Burundi vs Chad – Stade Intwari, Bujumbura 4pm
- Ethiopia vs Sao Tome e Principe – Dire Dawa Stadium 4pm
