Key outcomes from the CAN 2027 qualifying draw
In a landmark event held in Cairo this week, the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was completed, setting the stage for 48 nations across the continent. Each team now knows their path forward in a 12-group format, with the top two finishers in each group securing a spot in the tournament.
The upcoming qualifiers will unfold in two phases: the first two matchdays are scheduled for September and October 2026, while the final rounds will take place in March 2027.
Group-by-group breakdown of the qualifiers
The competitive landscape is now crystal clear. Here’s how the 12 groups are structured for the CAN 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 tournament itself will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, marking the first time in history the competition is co-organized by three nations. With the draw now finalized, teams will begin the race for qualification in earnest, aiming to secure their place in the 2027 edition of Africa’s premier football spectacle.
