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All posts（https://eritrean-football.com/） Eritrea face demanding start to AFCON qualifying campaign
6 September 2026
The Red Sea Camels will open their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign against Kenya on September 26 before facing South Africa four days later in Cairo.
Eritrea begin their bid for a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with two difficult Group D fixtures in the space of four days, starting with an away match against Kenya in Nairobi on September 26.
The Red Sea Camels will then return to Cairo, where they will host South Africa at Al Salam Stadium on September 30.
The fixtures mark Eritrea's return to the group stage of the AFCON qualifiers after the side successfully negotiated the preliminary round earlier this year. Eritrea defeated Eswatini over two legs to reach the group phase, having played their first continental qualifier in almost two decades.
The group also contains Guinea, while Kenya are automatically qualified for next year's tournament as one of the three co-hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
That makes the structure of Group D unusual. With Kenya already guaranteed a place at the finals, only one additional team from the group will qualify.
Kenya provide opening challenge
Kenya will be Eritrea's first opponents at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
The Harambee Stars are coached by former Manchester City and South Africa forward Benni McCarthy, who has named a 36-man provisional squad for the opening qualifiers. Kenya will face Guinea in Conakry on October 1 after the Eritrea match.
For Eritrea, avoiding defeat would represent a positive start to a campaign in which every point is likely to carry considerable weight.
The Red Sea Camels will have little time to regroup, however, with South Africa waiting in Cairo just four days later.