The qualifying rounds for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) are set to commence on Thursday, marking a significant moment as 48 countries vie for places in Africa’s premier football tournament. This iteration of AFCON is particularly notable as it returns to East Africa for the first time in over five decades, with Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda serving as co-hosts.
Structured into 12 groups, the participating teams will embark on a challenging qualifying journey consisting of six rounds extending until March of the following year. The draw for the qualifiers, conducted in Cairo, Egypt, in May, has resulted in a diverse and competitive lineup of teams.
The following countries have been assigned to each group for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers:
– Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
– Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
– Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, The Gambia, Somalia
– Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Eritrea
– Group E: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
– Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
– Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo
– Group H: Tunisia, Uganda, Libya, Botswana
– Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
– Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
– Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
– Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau
The schedule includes high-stakes matches from the very beginning, with notable fixtures featuring traditional powerhouses. Key encounters set to capture fans’ attention include Ivory Coast facing Ghana and Morocco taking on Gabon.
The qualification process will take place during designated FIFA international windows, with the first two rounds scheduled for September 21 to October 6, 2026, followed by rounds three and four from November 9 to 17, 2026. Rounds five and six will culminate from March 22 to 30, 2027.
Ultimately, 24 teams will qualify for the AFCON 2027 finals, where only the top two teams from each group will advance. Unique to this tournament is the automatic qualification of co-hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, allowing for a vibrant representation from the host nations.
AFCON 2027 is poised to occur in several cities from June 19 to July 17, 2027, at ten different venues across the three host countries, further emphasizing the region’s growing prominence in world football.
This year’s tournament promises to showcase a wealth of talent, including renowned players such as Mohamed Salah from Egypt and Achraf Hakimi from Morocco, highlighting the prowess and dedication of African footballers on the global stage. The AFCON tournament not only serves as a platform for sportsmanship but also for cultural exchange and unity among African nations.
As the excitement builds for the upcoming matches, fans and players alike look forward to an exhilarating celebration of African football.
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