Senegal will begin their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign away from home after their opening fixture against Mozambique was moved from Dakar to Maputo.
The match, originally scheduled for the Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium in Diamniadio, Senegal, will now be played at the Zimpeto National Stadium in the Mozambican capital on 25 September 2026.
The change means the Teranga Lions will have to travel to Mozambique for what was initially expected to be their first home game of the qualifying campaign.
The Mozambican Football Federation (FMF) confirmed the relocation in an official statement, saying the move was made following a request from the Senegalese Football Federation (FSF).
The decision has been forced by the lack of a suitable stadium in Senegal to host the fixture.
The Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium is unavailable because of events linked to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, while the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium is reportedly not in suitable condition to stage the match.
The FMF said the Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium would not be available because it is being used for matches associated with the regional Olympic Games. That situation prompted the FSF to seek an alternative venue for the opening fixture.
The match will kick off at 15:00 local time on 25 September at the Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo.
The relocation has also changed the sequence of the two fixtures between the West and Southern African nations.
Rather than hosting Mozambique in Dakar in the opening round, Senegal will now travel to Maputo first before welcoming Mozambique to Dakar on Matchday 5 of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers.
The change therefore gives Mozambique home advantage in the first meeting between the sides, while Senegal will have to wait until later in the qualifying campaign to play the return fixture on home soil.
For Senegal, the change represents an unusual start to their bid to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The Lions had been expected to launch their campaign in front of their supporters in Dakar, but stadium availability has forced the fixture to be moved across the continent.
The situation also highlights the challenges surrounding stadium availability in Senegal, where the country’s two main venues referenced in the fixture arrangements are currently unavailable for different reasons.
The Abdoulaye-Wade Stadium, which was due to host the match, cannot be used because of the sporting events connected to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, the condition of the Léopold Sédar Senghor Stadium pitch means it is not considered suitable for the fixture.
