By Etienne Mainimo Mengnjo
Five-time African champion Cameroon kicks off its 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign Thursday evening, hosting Comoros in a Group G opener at the Roumdé Adjia stadium in Garoua.
Cameroon National team
The Indomitable Lions will enter the fixture aiming to establish immediate dominance in the group while putting behind them the disappointment of missing out on qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Cameroon, ranked 43rd in the FIFA world rankings, holds a distinct historical edge over the Coelacanths, who sit 65 places below them at No. 108. In three previous competitive meetings, Cameroon remains unbeaten against Comoros with two victories and one draw.
The most high-stakes encounter between the two nations came during the 2021 AFCON round of 16, where Cameroon earned a 2-1 victory en route to a third-place tournament finish.
The hosts boast a formidable defensive record on home soil in regional qualifiers, having gone undefeated in their past 23 home AFCON qualifying matches. Overall, Cameroon has avoided defeat in 34 of its last 37 AFCON qualifying fixtures and has lost just twice in its last 10 games across all competitions, securing clean sheets in two of its past three outings under manager David Pagou.
Comoros, led by head coach Hubert Velud, faces a steep climb as it seeks its first-ever victory over Cameroon. The visitors enter the campaign looking to build momentum toward securing their third AFCON appearance, following a group-stage exit at the 2025 tournament.
The Coelacanths recently halted a nine-game winless streak during the June international window, capturing a 1-0 friendly win over Equatorial Guinea. However, offensive struggles continue to hamper the side: Comoros has failed to score in five of its last seven matches across all competitions, suffered six defeats in its past 10 away fixtures, and lost 67 percent of its last six games overall.
Despite broader recent struggles, Comoros carries a respectable stretch in AFCON qualifiers specifically, riding an eight-match unbeaten run within the tournament’s qualifying system.
Thursday’s match marks the opening fixture for both nations in Group G, where they compete alongside Namibia and Congo for a spot in the continent’s flagship international tournament. Kickoff is scheduled for Thursday evening at the Stade Omnisport de Limbe.
