The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers will begin this week and run until March 2027, with African countries battling for the 24 available spots alongside the three host nations for next year’s tournament.
Several of the continent’s most valuable players will be in action during the qualifying rounds as they look to help their countries make a strong start to the campaign.
This article takes a look at the five most valuable African players set to feature in the first round of the AFCON 2027 qualifying matches.
Yan Diomande (Ivory Coast)
Ivory Coast youngster Yan Diomande leads this list as the most valuable African footballer in the world with a market value of around €90 million.
The 19-year-old enjoyed an outstanding individual campaign during the 2025-26 season at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig which earned him a lucrative move to Real Madrid in the summer.
The highly rated teenager will look to continue his fine form for the Elephants when they kick off their qualifying campaign against Ghana on Thursday, before facing Somalia next week, hoping to inspire them to victories in both games.
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Ayyoub Bouaddi (Morocco)
Another teenager on this list, Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi will be in action for Morocco during the international window as the African champions face Gabon and Lesotho during their first two games.
The 18-year-old broke into the limelight during the 2026 World Cup tournament, where he shone for the Atlas Lions.
He eventually earned a record breaking move to Manchester City in the summer transfer window from Lille and has settled in well at the former Premier League champions and will now be hoping to continue his impressive form for his country.
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Bryan Mbeumo (Cameroon)
Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo will lead the attack alongside Bayer Leverkusen’s Christian Kofane for Cameroon in their AFCON 2027 qualifiers against Comoros and Congo this month.
The former Brentford star has a market value of around €75 million and is also the Indomitable Lions’ most valuable footballer as well.
Mbeumo will be looking to deliver decisive performances to help them to a fast start when they kick off their campaign against Comoros on Thursday night.
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Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal)
Iliman Ndiaye also appears on this list with a market value of around €55 million which also places him as the most valuable Senegalese footballer in the world.
The versatile attacker joined Manchester City from Everton in the summer transfer window and has settled in gradually at the club.
Ndiaye will now be looking to lead a new-look Senegal team under head coach Patrick Vieira, with games to come against Mozambique and Ethiopia.
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Bazoumana Toure (Ivory Coast)
Ivorian forward Bazoumana Toure completes this list with a market value of €50 million and will be eyeing a crucial role in his country’s qualifying games against Ghana and Somalia, given the absence of Manchester United’s Amad Diallo.
With Diomande set to occupy one side of the flanks, Toure will be tasked with producing equal threat and width on the opposite flank as the Elephants look to begin their campaign on the best possible note.
