During the second matchday of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, Algeria stumbled against Burundi with a 2-2 draw, Morocco secured a controlled 2-0 victory away against Lesotho, and Senegal claimed a narrow 1-0 win over Mozambique under newly appointed head coach Patrick Vieira.
Algeria Stumbles Against Burundi in Chaotic Four-Goal Draw
Algeria entered Tuesday’s fixture looking to build on an opening victory against Zambia in Brahim Hemdani’s managerial debut. Instead, the team endured a disastrous start in Blida. Just seven minutes later, Ramy Bensebaïni was beaten on the flank by Bienvenue Girumugisha, who easily bypassed Jaouen Hadjam to double the visitor’s advantage.
Trailing 2-0, the Fennecs struggled to establish rhythm against a physical Burundi side that frequently conceded fouls. Algeria eventually equalized in the 63rd minute when Adil Boulbina curled a direct free-kick past the goalkeeper just before being substituted. Despite late pressure, Algeria lacked the collective creativity to find a winner, leaving the dressing room with a result that felt more like a defeat.
Morocco Defeats Lesotho to Maintain Qualifying Momentum
In Maseru, Morocco faced a stubborn, deep-sitting Lesotho defense following their opening win against Gabon. The Atlas Lions dominated possession but struggled to break through until the final minute of the first half. Real Madrid attacker Brahim Díaz capitalized on a defensive clearance failure to break the deadlock and give Morocco a 1-0 lead heading into the interval.
Operating with patient control, Walid Regragui’s side continued to press after the restart. Soufiane Rahimi provided a precise assist in the second half, setting up Azzedine Ounahi to seal a 2-0 victory.
Vieira Secures First Win as Senegal Edges Past Mozambique
Senegal traveled to face Mozambique seeking a response after dropping two points in their opening fixture. Newly appointed head coach Patrick Vieira altered his tactical approach, shifting to a 3-4-3 formation. The tactical shakeup saw midfielder Pape Matar Sarr drop out of the starting lineup to accommodate Ibrahim Mbaye.
The adjustment yielded an immediate reward. Former Paris Saint-Germain youngster Mbaye opened the scoring after receiving a pass from Aston Villa teammate Nicolas Jackson. However, much like their previous outing, the Lions of Teranga failed to convert further chances to put the game out of reach. As the second half progressed, the tempo and quality of play dropped significantly. Vieira’s side held on to secure a 1-0 victory, marking the former Arsenal captain’s first competitive win as Senegal manager.
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