The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled an exciting draw for the qualifiers, where 48 teams will compete across 12 groups for 24 coveted spots at the expanded finals co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. Organizers divided the nations into four pots of 12 teams each, placing one team from every pot into each group. Consequently, the top two sides from every group will advance directly to the finals.
Defending champions Morocco head Group A and will confront Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho. Meanwhile, South Africa received a favourable grouping in Group D alongside Guinea, Kenya, and Eritrea. This matchup adds extra emotion, as Kenya will be led by former South African star Benni McCarthy.
Furthermore, fans can look forward to a blockbuster clash in Group C, where powerhouse rivals Ghana and Ivory Coast will renew their rivalry in a repeat of the 2015 AFCON final.
Full Draw – AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia
Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Eritrea
Group E: DR 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 qualifying campaign kicks off in September 2026 and runs until March 2027, promising intense matches and dramatic storylines across the continent. Nigeria will now focus on securing top spot in their group and advancing confidently to the finals.