Quotes round-up: Coaches have their say on TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 Qualifier Draw

Coaches from across the continent have been having their say following the Qualifier Draw for the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 that was staged on Tuesday.

The 48 teams now know their opponents and path to the finals, which will be staged in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from 17 June to 19 July 2027.

Here is a round-up of coach reaction following the draw.

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi as his team faces Gabon, Niger and Lesotho
“These teams are not surprises; they are opponents we know well. We have had the opportunity to play against them in recent years. I think it is an advantage to be able to face teams we are already familiar with.
“(Gabon) are a highly competitive team that knows how to be formidable thanks to the quality of their players. We will have to approach these matches well.
“As for Niger, first of all, there is a bit of personal affection because we will meet (Moroccan coach) Badou Zaki, who is an absolute legend here in Morocco and an inspiration for us coaches.
“Otherwise, it is a team, much like Lesotho, that has proven we must respect everyone. They are a growing side with a Moroccan coach at the helm, which makes us very proud.
“As soon as the World Cup is over, we will shift our entire focus to this. Winning it is one of our main objectives.”

Cameroon coach David Pagou as his team faces Comoros, Namibia and Congo
“I’d say it’s a balanced group, but whenever Cameroon has focused on itself, I think things have always gone well.
“So these are teams we must take very seriously. There are no longer any ‘minnows’ in football: all teams are on a level playing field; now it’s up to us to do the job.
“As for Namibia, we’ve been in the same qualifying groups for three consecutive tournaments; they’re a team that has always caused us problems.
“Congo are no pushovers either. It’s now up to us to focus on ourselves. We’ll approach every match with the aim of winning it, as every team is a force to be reckoned with.
“The prospect of playing against Cameroon will be an extra incentive for every nation.”

Namibia coach Collin Benjamin as his team faces Cameroon, Comoros and Congo
“It’s a good draw. Cameroon is a powerhouse in African football, but our statistics against them look good on paper.
“Comoros recently participated in the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON 2025 held in Morocco and they have been doing well, with most of their players playing in Europe. Congo has athletic players and we are looking forward to playing them.
“For us, the focus will be on preparation, discipline and hard work. Every team at this stage deserves respect, but we also believe in our own quality and ability to compete.
“The players are motivated and eager to represent the country well. Our objective is to fight for qualification and make the nation proud.”

Gambia coach Johnathan McKinstry as his team faces Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Somalia
“Ivory Coast and Ghana are two of Africa’s elite teams and both will be representing the continent at this summer’s FIFA World Cup in North America, while Somalia will also be highly motivated and competitive throughout the qualifying series.
“But as we have shown before, when Gambia goes up against the top teams on the continent, our players rise to the occasion.
“We played Ivory Coast in Abidjan only 12 months ago and were extremely unfortunate not to come away with a result, with their goalkeeper named Man of the Match, and only recently in March we once again showed our quality and level of progress in Senegal.
“Not forgetting our victory in Tunis over Tunisia in our last AFCON campaign. These performances showed the level we can reach when we are focused, organised and brave.
“Our objective, as always, is clear: to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2027.
“When teams come to Banjul, whether that is Somalia, Ghana or Ivory Coast, they must know they are coming into a difficult environment. No team in Africa should feel comfortable coming to play Gambia at home.”

Malawi coach Kalisto Pasuwa as his team faces Egypt, Angola and South Sudan
“It is a fair draw, in my opinion, as we all have to play all the teams. We last played Egypt a while back and a lot has changed since.
“Every game is a new game. To qualify, we have to play first and, as Malawi, we just need to pull in the same direction and avoid infighting. It is a collective effort.”

Zambia coach George Lwandamina as his side faces Algeria, Togo and Burundi
“The team that prepares adequately, I am sure, is the team that will pose a threat to us, if that is, we don’t prepare well.
“We have players who can compete. What is important is how much preparation will be given to the team.
“We are all Zambians and we only have one Zambia. So everyone should rally behind the team. I am sure selections cannot please everybody. But we have to push in one direction. Whether happy or unhappy, we are all Zambians.”