CAF set to draw AFCON 2027 qualifiers into 12 groups

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the draw for the remaining teams in the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place on Tuesday, setting the stage for the next phase of the road to the continental tournament.

A total of 48 teams will be placed into 12 groups as nations begin their quest for qualification to Africa’s premier football competition.

According to the qualification format, the top two teams from each group will secure places at AFCON 2027.

However, the qualification process will feature a unique arrangement involving the tournament’s three co-hosts — Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Although the three nations have already secured automatic qualification as hosts, they will still participate in the qualifying campaign.

Their involvement means that an additional team from each of their respective groups will also progress to the finals alongside them.

The arrangement is expected to maintain competitive balance and ensure the co-host nations remain actively involved in high-level competition ahead of the tournament.

The draw is anticipated to generate significant interest across the continent as teams learn their opponents and begin preparations for what promises to be a fiercely contested qualification series.

With places at AFCON 2027 at stake, attention will now turn to Tuesday’s draw and the pathway each nation must navigate to reach the finals.

The CAF qualifiers will be staged across the three FIFA international windows:

• Matchdays 1–2: 21 September to 6 October 2026
• Matchdays 3–4: 9 to 17 November 2026
• Matchdays 5–6: 22 to 30 March 2027