The road to the 2027 Pamoja TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations officially kicks on Thursday with 48 nations starting their quest to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda come next year.

The qualification campaign will end in March next year with 24 nations confirming their places at the Afcon finals.

The two top teams in each group earn qualification to the first tournament in East Africa since 1976 when Ethiopia hosted although groups involving hosts will have the highest performing nation in the group alongside the co-host.

With action getting underway on Thursday, some nations have made some managerial changes since the last edition in Morocco and here, our Chief football writer Ismael Kiyonga brings you a list of coaches that will be desperate to make a mark

Patrick Vieira (France) – Senegal

The 1998 World Cup winner with France takes over from Pape Thiaw who led the Lions of Teranga to ‘triumph’ in Morocco and led the team during the Word Cup in United States, Canada and Mexico.

Vieira is under pressure as he takes charge of his country of birth in his first national team managerial job.

Herve Renard (France) – Ivory Coast

Eleven years after leading the Elephants of Ivory Coast to the Afcon title in 2015, the experienced Herve Renard is back.

The 57-year-old Frenchman starts his second stint with the Elephants at home against Ghana on Thursday in what is the standout match in the first round of fixtures.

Renard is one of the most experienced coaches in African football and will hope his second stint with Ivory Coast is as fruitful as the first.

Carlos Queiroz (Portugal) – Ghana

The veteran Portuguese will manage the Black Stars who are aiming at returning at Afcon after missing out on the last edition in Morocco.

The former Real Madrid and Portugal head coach was appointed on a short stint early this year and managed the Black Stars at the world cup and re-appointed after leading Ghana to the round of 32.

Pitso Mosimane (South Africa) – South Africa

Arguably one of the best local coaches on the continent returns to Bafana Bafana after 14 years since he had his first stint with the team.

He replaces Belgian Hugo Broos who did well at the last two editions and returned the 1996 winners to the World Cup where they got out of the Group for the first time.

In his first stint, South Africa missed out on Afcon 2012 and pressure is on to deliver after his successes with Mamelodi Sundowns and Al Ahly in club football.

Mohamed Ouahbi (Morocco) – Morocco

Ouahbi took over after Morocco 2025 and guided Morocco to the quarter final of the FIFA World Cup in June where they fell to France.

Morocco ‘has not won’ the Afcon for over 40 years and Ouahbi understands that more than qualifying for Pamoja will do.

Moine Chabaani (Tunisia) – Tunisia

Chabaani leads the Carthage Eagles in a turbulent time for Tunisian football as they aim to win the Afcon for the first time since 2004 and his first task comes against Uganda.

He has previously coached Esperance and RS Berkane in club football.

Brahim Hemdani (Algeria) – Algeria

Hemdani has his work cut out after replacing Vladamir Petkovic in the Algerian hot seat in a new era that saw veteran winger Riyadh Mahrez retire after the world cup.

Sebastien Migne (France) – Gabon

The former Kenya head coach takes on Gabon but must do without Pierre Emerick Aubameyang for the opening two fixtures in the qualifiers.

Amir Abdou (France) – Burkina Faso

After impressing with lowly ranked Comoros, Amir Abdou will be tested after he took over Burkina Faso stallions who are desperate for an Afcon title after coming close in 2013 when they lost to Nigeria in the final.

Aliou Cisse (Senegal) – Angola

Afcon title winning coach with Senegal in 2021, Aliou Cisse wants to emulate that with underachievers Angola but the first task is to qualify for the finals come next year.

Claude Le Roy (France) – Congo Brazzaville

The veteran tactician lifted the title with DR Congo in 1988 and with several years of experience on the continent, Le Roya will lead Congo Brazzaville for a second stint.

At 78, he is probably the oldest coach managing in the qualifiers.

Hesham Yakan (Egypt) – Eritrea  

The Egyptian has been tasked with a huge task to try and qualify the small CECAFA nation to their first Afcon finals in the same region.

Humberto Bettencourt (Cape Verde) – Cape Verde

The former assistant to Bubista on Cape Verde takes over the Islanders who had a very impressive debut World Cup and will be fancied to qualify for Pamoja.

He will begin his reign in Mali on Friday before hosting Rwanda on Tuesday.

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With the qualifiers for the 2027 Pamoja Africa Cup of Nations less than three months away, Guinea have reportedly written to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) about their safety of playing in South Africa.

The West African nation are in Group D of the qualifiers alongside South Africa, Eritrea and co-hosts Kenya.

By virtue of being co-hosts, Kenya have already secured automatic qualification for the tournament by virtue of being co-hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

That leaves Eritrea, Guinea and Bafana competing for one qualifying spot from the group, a situation that Guinea national team coach Paulo Duarte has already expressed frustration about.

Though fixture dates yet to be confirmed, Guinea are now said to have raised concerns regarding their expected trip to South Africa over safety due to ongoing Xenophobic acts.

According to Afrik-Foot, the Guinean Football Federation has sent a letter to CAF expressing concerns about the safety of its team when travelling to South Africa, potentially in the coming months.

CAF are said to have received the letter and will review the matter before making a decision in due course.

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• Event: AFCON PAMOJA 2027
• Duration: 19th June to 18th June 2027
• Joint Hosts: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda

In a bid to encourage multitudes of people to visit Uganda during the 2027 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the Government of Uganda has announced VISA waivers for all the intending people planning to visit the country prior to, during and after the championship.

A three-month grace period has been announced, a month before the event kicks off, during and one month after the tournament has kicked off on 19th June 2027.

This was officially announced by Dr Dennis K. Mugimba, the chairperson of the communications and signage sub-committee on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC – Uganda) during a special press conference held at the Uganda Media Center in Kampala on Tuesday, 7th April 2026.

The Government of Uganda has committed to waive the requirement for Visa fees for all and any visitors to Uganda for a period of at least three months starting with one month prior to kick off of AFCON 2027 up to one month after the final match.

Dr Dennis K. Mugimba, the chairperson of the communications and signage sub-committee on the Local Organizing Committee (LOC – Uganda)

PAMOJA Visa:

In the same vein, Mugimba also hinted about the joint visa the Ugandan Government is planning with the other two co-hosts Kenya and Tanzania to allow easy movement of the fans and visitors across the host countries.

“To facilitate the ease of movement of fans and guests during the tournament, the Government is pursuing the option of a special purpose joint PAMOJA visa with Kenya and Tanzania during the tournament” Mugimba added.

Mugimba’s address also entailed the additional Ug.Shs 905 billion approved by General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni towards meeting critical inter-sectoral funding and administrative requirements for AFCON 2027.

This money will have Ug.Shs  101.1 billion for upgrade of select hotels in Hoima and Masindi; Ug.Shs 213.76 billion (select roads around Hoima City stadium, Namboole stadium and Kinawataka); Ug.Shs 184.9 billion (passenger terminal at Kabalega Airport), Ug.Shs 17.7 billion (FUFA), Ug.Shs 12.55 billion (Uganda Cranes preparation), Ug.Shs 109.9 billion (AFCON 2027 LOC Organizing Committee), Ug.Shs 56.2 billion (Namboole stadium remodeling and upgrade), Ug.Shs 6.44 billion (ICT infrastructure), Ug.Shs 91.05 billion (Upgrade of Hoima regional referral hospital, Masindi General Hospital and Buseruka Health Centre III), Ug.Shs 13.75 billion (Hoima City, Masindi Municipality and Kira Municipality sanitation and environmental hygiene services), Ug.Shs 3.39 Billion (Meterological services at Kabalega and Entebbe International Airports), Ug.Shs 6.25 billion (upgrade of water grid capacity in Hoima city), Ug.Shs 23.33 billion (upgrade and maintenance of railway), Ug.Shs 4.69 billion (dedicated electricity lines) and Ug.Shs 37.85 billion (marketing and promotion of Destination Uganda).

Dr. Mugimbi is rest assured that the preparations will progress smoothly coming to the next CAF inspection in June 2026.

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