Senegal confirm 2027 qualifier switch to Maputo

Senegal will no longer host Mozambique in Dakar for the opening round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The fixture will instead be played in Maputo, changing the planned venue while keeping the match on September 25, 2026.

The Senegalese Football Federation confirmed the move on September 9, following its initial announcement by the Mozambique Football Federation. The CAF and the Mozambican federation approved the request, formalising an inversion in the schedule of the two meetings between the teams. The match had originally been assigned to Dakar’s Stade Maître Abdoulaye Wade de Diamniadio.

That stadium will not be available during the relevant period because it is due to host the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The federation also said the playing surface at Stade Léopold Sédar Senghor is not currently in suitable condition for a senior national-team fixture of this level.

The relocation was requested by Senegal’s national technical directorate to avoid risks to players and protect the standard of the competition. The federation expressed its appreciation to CAF and Mozambique for accepting the change and said further details about the match would be provided when available.