AFCON 2027 qualifying groups confirmed after Cairo draw

The qualifying groups for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations were confirmed on Tuesday following the official draw ceremony held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association.

A total of 48 nations have been divided into 12 groups of four as African countries begin the race for places at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

Defending champions Morocco were drawn in Group A alongside Gabon, Niger and Lesotho.

Morocco head into the qualifiers as holders after CAF declared Senegal to have forfeited the previous final despite the Moroccans losing 1-0 in the match.

Several groups are expected to produce fierce competition, including Group C where Cote d’Ivoire will face Ghana, Gambia and Somalia, while Group J features Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia.

Hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will also participate in the qualifiers despite already securing automatic qualification for the finals. In groups containing a host nation, only one additional qualification place will be available for the remaining teams.

South Africa were drawn with Guinea, Kenya and Eritrea in Group D, while Nigeria headline Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.

The qualification campaign will be played across three FIFA international windows due to the shortened calendar before the tournament.

Matchdays one and two are scheduled between September 21 and October 6, 2026, while matchdays three and four will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026. The final two rounds of matches are set for March 22 to 30, 2027.

AFCON 2027 qualifying groups

Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho

Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan

Group C: Cote d’Ivoire, 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