The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers began on Thursday, with 48 nations competing to secure a place in the continent’s premier football tournament. Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda will act as joint hosts, bringing the competition back to East Africa for the first time in 51 years.
Split into 12 groups, the teams will participate in a six-round qualifying process concluding in March. Below is a comprehensive overview of the upcoming qualifiers.
Which teams are in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers?
The draw for the AFCON 2027 qualifiers was conducted in Cairo, Egypt, in May. The 48 teams taking part are distributed as follows:
- 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
What are the top AFCON 2027 qualifying matches?
Based on the first two rounds, the standout fixtures include:
- Ivory Coast vs Ghana – Thursday, September 24 at 19:00 GMT
- Nigeria vs Madagascar – Friday, September 25 at 16:00 GMT
- Morocco vs Gabon – Friday, September 25 at 19:00 GMT
- Egypt vs Angola – Friday, September 25 at 19:00 GMT
- Algeria vs Zambia – Friday, September 25 at 19:00 GMT
- Senegal vs Mozambique – Friday, September 25 at 19:00 GMT
- South Africa vs Guinea – Saturday, September 26 at 16:00 GMT
What is the schedule for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers?
The six rounds of AFCON 2027 qualifying will be contested across the following FIFA international windows:
- Rounds 1 and 2: September 21-October 6, 2026
- Rounds 3 and 4: November 9-17, 2026
- Rounds 5 and 6: March 22-30, 2027
How many teams can qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations?
A total of 24 teams will qualify for AFCON 2027.
The standard rule dictates that the top two teams in each group will advance to the finals.
However, in groups featuring Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, who have automatically qualified as co-hosts, only the highest-ranked team outside the respective host nation will progress.
The qualifiers will adopt a home-and-away format, with each team playing six matches.
When and where is AFCON 2027?
The 36th edition of AFCON will be hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, returning the tournament to East Africa after five decades.
The tournament is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, across 10 venues.
The stadiums are located in the Tanzanian cities of Dar-es-Salaam, Arusha, and Zanzibar, as well as Nairobi in Kenya and Hoima, Kampala, and Lira in Uganda.
Who won the last AFCON?
Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 in the most recent AFCON final on January 18, as Pape Gueye’s extra-time goal in a chaotic match secured their second continental title.
However, in March, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made the unprecedented decision to strip Senegal of the title and award it to Morocco.
This controversial ruling followed a review of an incident at the end of normal time in the final, where much of the Senegalese squad temporarily left the field to protest an added-time penalty awarded to Morocco, which was ultimately missed after a significant delay.
Senegal has appealed the decision, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport will hear the case on October 8.
Key Stars to Watch in the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
Two-time African Footballer of the Year Mohamed Salah, currently playing for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig, headlines the squad of record seven-time African champions Egypt.
Fans should also keep an eye on Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz and teenage midfield sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi in the Morocco squad, managed by new coach Mohamed Ouahbi, as well as Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze in the Nigerian lineup.
Elsewhere, Ghana are bolstered by the return of attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who missed the FIFA World Cup 2026 due to a seven-month injury absence, while Senegal’s midfield features talents like Ibrahim Mbaye and Iliman Ndiaye.
Injuries and Suspensions Affecting AFCON Qualifiers
Morocco will be without their captain and key player Achraf Hakimi for the opening two matches due to a two-match suspension, alongside Ismael Saibari, who is banned for three games for unsporting behavior during the controversial AFCON final in January.
Senegal will also be without Sadio Mane, a two-time African Footballer of the Year, as the Al-Nassr player misses the match against Mozambique because of what newly-appointed coach Patrick Vieira described as a “physical issue”.
Other Notable Absentees from AFCON Qualifiers
Nigeria’s star striker Victor Osimhen will miss the opening qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as he continues his recovery from a muscle injury sustained while playing for his Turkish club Galatasaray.
Naby Keita is among several established players excluded from the Guinea squad, while Tunisia’s Hannibal Mejbri and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo are both out with injuries.
Gabon will be without former captain and all-time top scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who quit international duty, stating he felt “humiliated” by his exclusion and subsequent reinstatement after the AFCON in Morocco in January.
Numerous players have also retired from international football this year, including Riyad Mahrez, who led Algeria to the AFCON 2019 title; Edouard Mendy, Senegal’s first-choice goalkeeper during their AFCON 2021 triumph; and Ghana’s Spanish-born forward Inaki Williams.
How to watch and follow AFCON 2027 qualifying matches?
Fans can catch all the action from the AFCON 2027 qualifiers on the following broadcasters or streaming platforms:
- North Africa and Middle East: beIN SPORTS
- Sub-Saharan Africa: SuperSport
- East Africa: Azam TV, TBC Tanzania, KBC Kenya
- South Africa: SABC Sport
- Francophone Africa: Canal+
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