U-23 AFCON 2027: Holders Morocco face potential Senegal showdown

The holders Morocco could face Senegal in the third round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, while Algeria and Mali may also meet in a potentially high-profile tie.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw for the qualifying competition on Tuesday, with the tournament also serving as the route to the men’s football tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Africa U-23 Cup of Nations is staged only once every four years and determines Africa’s three representatives in the men’s Olympic football competition. The 2027 edition will be hosted by Egypt on a date yet to be confirmed, most likely in May or June.

Eight teams will compete in the finals. Egypt’s U-23 side have qualified automatically as hosts, leaving seven places available through the qualification process.

A total of 42 nations were involved in Tuesday’s draw for the three qualifying rounds. The ceremony was conducted by former Cote d’Ivoire international Abdoulaye Meite and former Egypt goalkeeper Nader El Sayed.

Fourteen of the seeded teams have been given a bye to the second round. That list includes holders Morocco, as well as Algeria, Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Mali, Guinea, Gabon, Congo, Niger, Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Zambia.

The remaining nations must begin in the opening round, with the first legs scheduled for 20 September. Among them are the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tunisia, Benin and Burkina Faso.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo face Mauritania in the first round. Should they progress, they would then meet Nigeria before a possible third-round tie against one of Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso or Zambia.

Tunisia and Benin will meet each other in the opening round. The winner will go on to face Gabon in the second round, before potentially taking on Cote d’Ivoire, Kenya or Tanzania in the final qualifying round.

For the leading sides who enter later, the route initially appears more straightforward. Morocco will begin their campaign in the second round between 9 and 17 November, against the winners of the Ethiopia-Uganda tie.

However, the holders could face a major test in March 2027, when the third round is due to take place. Morocco could be drawn against Senegal, who must first overcome the winner of Djibouti-South Sudan.

Another possible heavyweight meeting is Algeria against Mali. That tie would be created if Algeria’s U-23 side, coached by Rafik Saifi, defeat the winners of Malawi-Eswatini, while Mali overcome the winners of Zimbabwe-Mauritius.

Cameroon’s campaign will start against the winners of Rwanda-Sudan. If they advance, the Indomitable Lions could then face one of Comoros, Madagascar or South Africa.

The qualification draw therefore offers several routes to the 2027 finals that could produce notable continental clashes, although each of the potential third-round meetings remains dependent on teams first negotiating their earlier ties.