Tough AFCON 2027 qualifying Groups promise excitement – William Troost-Ekong

Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong has tipped the AFCON 2027 qualification campaign to be one of the most competitive in recent memory, following the official draw ceremony in Cairo.

Reacting to the outcome, the ex-Super Eagles defender expressed his enthusiasm for the quality of matchups across the groups, predicting a series of difficult but entertaining contests on the road to the tournament.

“I’m really excited to see the draw for the qualification groups. For Nigeria, we’ll be facing familiar opponents like Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau. But there are also some very tough groups. I’m especially looking forward to how Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana fare against Gambia and Somalia. Overall, it’s going to be exciting and a great buildup to 2027,” Troost-Ekong said.

One of the standout pools is Group C, which pits Ivory Coast and Ghana against Gambia and Somalia. The clash between the two West African heavyweights is already being billed as one of the marquee fixtures of the qualification series.

Meanwhile, Nigeria has been drawn in Group L, alongside Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau, a lineup that promises familiar rivalries and tricky encounters.