The road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations officially began on Tuesday after the Confederation of African Football conducted the full qualifying draw in Cairo, Egypt, producing several heavyweight clashes and exciting rivalries across the continent. Among the biggest talking points from the ceremony was the blockbuster pairing of Ghana and Ivory Coast in Group C, a matchup already being described as one of the standout battles of the qualification campaign.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles were drawn in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau as they begin their pursuit of a fourth AFCON title. While many fans believe the group appears favourable on paper, the presence of co-host Tanzania has significantly raised the stakes because only one team from the group will qualify automatically for the tournament finals. Tanzania, alongside Kenya and Uganda, already have guaranteed spots as tournament hosts but will still participate in the qualifiers to maintain competitive preparations ahead of the competition.
The draw has also revived memories of previous encounters between Nigeria and some of their opponents. Madagascar famously stunned the Super Eagles during the 2019 AFCON group stage, while Guinea-Bissau have become familiar rivals after facing Nigeria repeatedly in recent qualifying campaigns and tournaments. Football analysts believe the group may not be as straightforward as it initially appears, especially with African football becoming increasingly competitive in recent years. ..READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Elsewhere, Ghana’s clash against Ivory Coast is expected to dominate headlines throughout the qualification series. The Black Stars, who failed to qualify for the last AFCON tournament, were placed in Pot 2 during the draw and now face a difficult challenge against the reigning continental heavyweights. Gambia and Somalia complete Group C, with only the top teams expected to secure qualification after six matchdays scheduled between September 2026 and March 2027.
Defending African champions Senegal were drawn against Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia in Group J, while Morocco will face Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho in Group A. Egypt were paired with Angola, Malawi, and South Sudan, while South Africa landed in a challenging group featuring Guinea, Kenya, and Eritrea. The draw has created widespread excitement across the continent, with supporters already predicting potential surprises and upsets in what promises to be an intense qualification race.
CAF confirmed that the qualification campaign will take place across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays one and two are scheduled for September and October 2026, while the next set of fixtures will be played in November 2026. The final round of matches will then conclude in March 2027, when the full lineup for the tournament in East Africa will finally be confirmed.
The 2027 AFCON tournament itself is expected to make history as the first edition to be jointly hosted by three East African nations. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will stage the competition from June 19 to July 17, 2027, marking a major milestone for football development in the region. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has expressed confidence that the three nations will successfully deliver one of the best editions of the tournament despite concerns surrounding infrastructure readiness and preparations.
