Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifying schedule confirmed

The Africa Cup of Nations 2027 qualifiers will be played across three international windows between September 2026 and March 2027, with 48 teams competing for 24 places at the finals.

The six-match qualifying programme will begin with two rounds in late September, followed by two further matchdays in November 2026 and the final two in March 2027.

The campaign is set to begin while the Court of Arbitration for Sport considers the dispute over the winner of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The case involving Morocco and Senegal is due to be decided in October.

Among the opening fixtures are Cote d’Ivoire against Ghana, Mali versus Cape Verde and Cameroon against Comoros.

Most of the teams will also play one or two friendlies in early October. Those matches include Morocco against Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire against Cameroon and Senegal versus Comoros in Marseille.

In November, matchdays three and four will feature a particular scheduling format, with teams from the same group meeting twice in quick succession. The first and second legs will be played only a few days apart, leaving the players with limited recovery time.

Morocco, for example, are expected to host Niger around 11 November before travelling to face them again around 15 November. Tunisia will follow a similar pattern, entertaining Libya on 11 November before the return fixture in Libya four days later.

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations finals will run from 19 June to 17 July 2027, according to dates set by the Confederation of African Football. The group-stage draw will take place on a date yet to be confirmed, after the final qualifying matches at the end of March.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host the tournament, marking the first time three countries have staged the competition together. It will also be the Africa Cup of Nations’ return to East Africa after 51 years, since the 1976 edition in Ethiopia.

However, concerns remain about the readiness of some infrastructure. Delays have been reported in the construction and renovation of several stadiums and facilities, prompting questions over whether the deadlines can be met and fuelling rumours that the tournament could be reassigned to other countries.

CAF continues to back the “Pamoja” trio. Following another inspection mission in September, the continental governing body said it was continuing to work with the authorities and local organising committees to ensure the infrastructure meets the required standards.

The 48 sides have been divided into 12 groups of four. Each team will play six matches, facing the other three teams home and away. In most groups, the top two teams will qualify for the finals.

There is a separate rule for groups containing one of the host nations. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania qualify automatically, meaning only the highest-ranked remaining team in each of those groups will also progress.

The schedule includes several notable early contests. Matchday one will feature a meeting between two World Cup teams, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana. Group K brings together Mali and Cape Verde, a surprise last-World-Cup round-of-32 side, while Egypt will renew acquaintances with Aliou Cisse’s Angola after their meeting at the previous Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon face Comoros, and Tunisia meet Libya in Group H.