Somalia in AFCON 2027 qualifying, Group C

The qualifying windows are confirmed, the exact matchdates are not. CAF has published the fixture order for Group C but not the calendar dates inside each window.

How Somalia got here

Somalia beat Mauritius on penalties in the preliminary round, 4-2, after two goalless draws. The legs were played on 27 and 31 March 2026.

That result put the Ocean Stars into an AFCON qualifying group for the first time. The draw was made in Cairo on 19 May 2026.

The group

Group C is the defending champions plus two former winners. Ivory Coast hold the title, Ghana have four, and Gambia are the only side Somalia can realistically target.

FIFA's July 2026 update has Somalia 199th in the men's world ranking. The team's highest placing on record is 158th.

The fixture order

CAF has published the sequence of the six matches. The dates inside each window are not out yet, so treat the order as fixed and the timing as pending.

Important. Do not plan around a specific date until CAF or the Somali Football Federation publishes one. Any site giving you an exact kick-off for these six matches today is guessing.

The finals, if it happens

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-host the finals from 19 June to 17 July 2027. That is the closest an AFCON has been to Somali fans in the tournament's history.

Qualification remains unlikely from this group. The value in the campaign is the six matches themselves, not the destination.

The coaching change

The Somali Football Federation appointed Abdellatif Salef as head coach in early August 2026. He takes the job weeks before the first qualifying window opens.

FIFA granted the federation $4.5 million through its Forward Development Programme, reported in October 2025. The money is directed at training grounds and national team support.

What the betting actually looks like

AFCON qualifiers are priced by every major book, so Group C will have markets. Somalia matches will carry the thinnest trees in the group and the widest margins.

Expect a match result market, a total, and little else on Somalia fixtures. Ivory Coast and Ghana matches will be priced far deeper because the liquidity is elsewhere in the group.

Important. A short price on a heavy favourite is where the margin is worst. Check the same fixture at two books before staking, because the gap on a low-liquidity qualifier is wider than on a Premier League match.

Where the Somali Premier League fits

Domestic coverage is far thinner than the national team. Only a small number of operators list Somali Premier League fixtures at all, and live pricing is rare.

The 2025-26 season ran from 31 December 2025 with Mogadishu City Club defending the title. No start date for 2026-27 has been published.

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Questions readers ask

Who is in Somalia's AFCON 2027 qualifying group

Group C is Ivory Coast, Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia. Ivory Coast are the defending champions and Ghana have won the tournament four times.

When are Somalia's qualifying matches

Matchdays 1 and 2 fall between 21 September and 6 October 2026, matchdays 3 and 4 between 9 and 17 November 2026, and matchdays 5 and 6 between 22 and 30 March 2027. CAF has not published exact dates.

Where is AFCON 2027 being played

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda co-host from 19 June to 17 July 2027. It is the first AFCON held in East Africa.

Is this Somalia's first AFCON qualifying group

Yes. The Ocean Stars reached the group stage for the first time after beating Mauritius 4-2 on penalties in March 2026.

Will bookmakers price Somalia matches

Yes, but thinly. Expect a match result market and a total on Somalia fixtures, with deeper trees on the Ivory Coast and Ghana matches.