The group stage of the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers brings together national teams with very different estimated squad values. At the bottom of Transfermarkt’s table sit Lesotho, Somalia and Mozambique. Each has a listed squad worth less than €2 million, far below the leading teams in the competition. This comparison covers only the 48 nations involved in the main group stage, excluding teams eliminated in the preliminary round.
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The Least Valuable National Teams in the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
Lesotho, Somalia and Mozambique have the lowest estimated squad market values among the 48 group-stage participants. The figures reveal significant financial differences, although qualification will be decided on the pitch.
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Lesotho and Somalia have the lowest listed totals
Lesotho has a combined market value of €575,000 for 23 listed players, the lowest total among the group-stage participants. That represents an average of approximately €25,000 per player. Lesotho will compete in Group A alongside Morocco, Gabon and Niger, opening its campaign against Niger on September 25.
Somalia follows on €760,000 across 19 players, or an average of €40,000 each. Having progressed through the preliminary round, Somalia has been drawn in Group C with Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and The Gambia. Its first group match is against The Gambia on September 25.
Mozambique and South Sudan are below €2 million
Mozambique has the third-lowest listed total: €1.53 million across 25 players. It shares Group J with Senegal, Sudan and Ethiopia and begins the main stage away to Senegal on September 25.
South Sudan is next with €1.63 million for 25 players. It will face Egypt, Angola and Malawi in Group B. South Sudan’s opening fixture is away to Malawi, another national team near the bottom of the valuation table.
Malawi is fifth among the least valuable registered squads, at €1.95 million for 26 players. Namibia follows on €2.08 million, while the Republic of the Congo and Botswana are tied at €2.68 million.
These figures cover the players recorded on each Transfermarkt squad page, not every footballer eligible to represent the country.
Market value does not determine qualification
There is an important limitation to this comparison: listed squad sizes differ, and some players may have no available market valuation. A low aggregate figure therefore does not establish that a national team has a smaller budget, has spent less on development or will perform worse.
On the pitch, every side faces six home-and-away group matches. Generally, the top two teams in each group qualify. In groups containing one of the three automatically qualified hosts, only the highest-placed team among the other three nations takes the additional place.
Market values provide context, but results will decide who reaches AFCON 2027.
