CAF unveils full 2027 AFCON Qualifiers draw as heavyweight groups emerge across continent

The Confederation of African Football (Confederation of African Football) has released the complete draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers, setting up a tightly contested qualification campaign featuring some of the continent’s most established football powerhouses alongside ambitious rising sides.

The draw, which maps out all 12 qualification groups for the tournament, confirmed a series of compelling match-ups that are expected to shape an intense road to the 2027 finals. Traditional heavyweights such as Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire have all been placed in separate or balanced groups, ensuring a competitive qualifying phase.

The qualification process will determine the final list of teams for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027 Qualifiers), with fixtures scheduled across three FIFA international windows spanning 2026 and 2027.

Full AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Draw

Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia
Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya*, Eritrea
Group E: DR 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

(*Teams marked with an asterisk indicate co-host involvement in the qualification cycle.)

A competitive roadmap to 2027

The qualification schedule has been structured to allow a steady progression across three FIFA international windows. Matchdays 1 and 2 will take place between September 21 and October 6, 2026, followed by Matchdays 3 and 4 from November 9 to 17, 2026. The campaign will conclude with Matchdays 5 and 6 between March 22 and March 30, 2027.

CAF officials have maintained that the format is designed to balance competitiveness with logistical efficiency, ensuring teams have adequate preparation time between fixtures while maintaining momentum throughout the campaign.

High stakes across the continent

The draw has produced several groups already being described as particularly demanding. Group C pits Côte d’Ivoire against Ghana, Gambia and Somalia, while Group I features Algeria, Zambia, Togo and Burundi in what promises to be a physically intense contest. Group L also stands out, with Nigeria facing Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau in a potentially unpredictable race for qualification.

Elsewhere, defending continental giants will look to assert dominance early, as Morocco, Egypt, Senegal and Cameroon begin their respective campaigns with expectations of comfortable progression—but little margin for error.

As preparations begin across the continent, attention now shifts from the draw ceremony to the pitch. Coaches will analyse opponents, federations will finalise logistics, and supporters will begin mapping out key fixtures in what promises to be a demanding and closely fought qualification journey.

With the path now clearly defined, the race to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations has officially begun.