AFCON 2027 qualifiers begin on Thursday, featuring a high-profile match between Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire. The opening round sets the stage for the qualification campaign as teams compete for places in the next Africa Cup of Nations.
Separate from the qualifiers, legal proceedings are underway to determine the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. Multiple reports say sports lawyers are preparing to argue whether Senegal or Morocco is the rightful champion, indicating that the 2025 tournament outcome is still unresolved.
While outlets focus on the start of the qualification matches, they also highlight that the broader AFCON story includes an ongoing legal dispute over the 2025 title. The reports do not provide additional details on the grounds of the challenge, but they agree on the two key developments: the matchups for the new qualification cycle and the uncertainty surrounding the 2025 champion.
