Burundi, Ethiopia Cruise Into Next Round of AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

Burundi, Ethiopia Cruise Into Next Round of AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

By Niyi Busari 

Burundi and Ethiopia secured progression to the next round of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Pamoja 2027 qualifiers on Tuesday, delivering composed and commanding performances to complete convincing aggregate victories, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Burundi produced the standout display of the day, thrashing Chad 4–0 in the second leg to seal an emphatic 8–0 aggregate win. Ethiopia, meanwhile, wrapped up a professional assignment with a 1–0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe, advancing with a comfortable 4–0 aggregate scoreline.

Burundi complete dominant double over Chad

Burundi underlined their superiority with a second consecutive commanding performance against Chad, building on their 4–0 away win in the first leg.

The visitors asserted control early, with Bienvenue Kanakimana opening the scoring in the 14th minute after being set up by Jordi Liongola. Kanakimana doubled his tally just eight minutes later, effectively putting the tie beyond doubt before the interval.

Holding a 2–0 lead at half-time and a commanding aggregate advantage, Burundi maintained their intensity after the break. Justin Girumugisha added a third goal in the 70th minute, capitalising on sustained pressure, before Abdoul Karim completed the rout with 10 minutes remaining.

The result capped a comprehensive two-legged performance in which Burundi outclassed Chad across all areas, combining attacking efficiency with defensive solidity to cruise into the next round.

Ethiopia seal progress with composed display

Ethiopia also advanced with minimal difficulty, building on their 3–0 first-leg advantage with a controlled 1–0 home victory over São Tomé and Príncipe.

Chernet Gugsaa struck early, finding the net in the seventh minute from close range following an assist by Tafesse M. The early breakthrough effectively ended any hopes of a comeback, allowing Ethiopia to dictate the tempo for the remainder of the match.

While the second half yielded no further goals, Ethiopia remained organised and disciplined, restricting their opponents and ensuring a comfortable passage through to the next stage.

First-leg advantages prove decisive

Both teams entered the second-leg fixtures with significant cushions following dominant away performances. Burundi’s 4–0 win in N’Djamena and Ethiopia’s 3–0 triumph in São Tomé had already placed them in firm control of their respective ties.

Those advantages allowed both sides to approach the return matches with composure, ultimately sealing qualification without serious threat.

Momentum builds ahead of tougher tests

Progression marks an important step for both nations in their pursuit of qualification for AFCON 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Burundi’s attacking sharpness and Ethiopia’s tactical discipline highlight two teams growing in confidence and cohesion. However, both sides are expected to face sterner opposition in the next phase of the qualifiers.

As the competition intensifies, maintaining consistency and building on these performances will be key to sustaining their ambitions of reaching Africa’s premier football tournament.