Burkina Faso, Benin headline tightly contested AFCON 2027 Qualifying Group F

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Cairo today, placing Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, and the Central African Republic together in a highly competitive Group F.

This specific grouping brings together four nations with varying recent histories in the tournament, setting the stage for a grueling six-match campaign that will determine who earns a spot in the first-ever triple-hosted finals in East Africa.

Burkina Faso enters the group as the seeded favorite from Pot 1, carrying the weight of high expectations following their consistent performances in recent continental competitions.

The Stallions will be looking to assert their dominance early, but they face a tricky path against a Benin side that has proven difficult to break down in past qualifying cycles.

Benin, drawn from Pot 2, view this as a primary opportunity to return to the grandest stage of African football after missing out on previous editions, relying on a mix of veteran leadership and emerging talent.

Mauritania, representing Pot 3, adds a layer of unpredictability to Group F. Having made significant strides in their domestic football infrastructure over the last decade, the Almoravids are no longer considered underdogs and have a recent track record of upsetting higher-ranked opponents. Their inclusion ensures that no team in the group can afford a lapse in concentration.

Rounding out the quartet is the Central African Republic from Pot 4, a team that has been knocking on the door of qualification for several years and will view these home-and-away fixtures as their best chance to make history with a debut appearance.

The road to the 2027 finals, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, is structured to be fast-paced and unforgiving.

According to the official schedule released by CAF, the action will begin with Matchdays 1 and 2 in late September 2026.

This will be followed by a double-header in November 2026, with the final, decisive matches taking place during the March 2027 international window.

With only the top two teams from Group F guaranteed a place in the final tournament, every point will be vital.

The 2027 edition is expected to be a landmark event for the region, and for the four teams in Group F, the journey to the June 19 kickoff begins now.