By Victor Okoye
Nigeria will face Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the draw, conducted Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), launched preparations for the continental championship.
The 2027 tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania under the “PAMOJA 2027” banner.
Forty-eight countries were drawn into 12 groups of four teams each for the qualification campaign.
Top teams from the groups will qualify for the finals scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Nigeria, seeded among Africa’s top teams, hopes to secure qualification after finishing third at the 2025 AFCON.
The Super Eagles claimed bronze at the 2025 tournament after defeating Egypt on penalties in the third-place match.
Tanzania’s inclusion in Group L adds intrigue, despite the East African nation already qualifying automatically as co-host.
CAF rules require host nations to participate in qualifiers, although their places at the finals remain guaranteed.
Group A comprises Morocco, Gabon, Niger Republic and Lesotho.
Group B includes Egypt, Angola, Malawi and South Sudan.
Group C contains Ivory Coast, Ghana, Somalia and Gambia.
Group D has South Africa, Guinea, Eritrea and Kenya.
Group E features DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe.
Group F consists of Burkina Faso, Benin Republic, Mauritania and Central African Republic.
Group G includes Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia and Congo.
Group H comprises Tunisia, Uganda, Libya and Botswana.
Group I contains Algeria, Zambia, Togo and Burundi.
Group J features Senegal, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Sudan.
Group K has Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda and Liberia.
Group L consists of Nigeria, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau and Tanzania.
CAF said the qualification matches will be played during multiple FIFA international windows beginning later this year.
The 2027 edition will mark AFCON’s return to East Africa after more than five decades.
It will also be the first AFCON tournament jointly hosted by three East African countries.(NAN)