Introduction
The road to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 is officially underway, with Africa’s national teams preparing for a long qualification campaign before the tournament arrives in East Africa.
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations PAMOJA 2027 will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027. It will be the first AFCON edition hosted by three countries and will return the tournament to East Africa more than five decades after the region last staged the competition.
The qualification campaign features 48 nations divided into 12 groups. Several of Africa’s biggest football teams, including Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Cameroon and South Africa, are competing for places at the finals.
With the opening matches scheduled from September 2026, fans are already looking closely at the AFCON 2027 qualifiers teams, schedule, format, key matches and top players.
What Is AFCON 2027?
AFCON 2027 is the next edition of Africa’s premier men’s international football tournament, organised by the Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF).
The 2027 edition will have 24 teams competing at the final tournament. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are automatically qualified because they are the three co-hosts.
The opening match of the finals is scheduled for 19 June 2027, while the final will be played on 17 July 2027.
The tournament is being promoted under the name AFCON PAMOJA 2027, with the event expected to bring together many of Africa’s biggest football stars.
Why the AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Matter
Qualification for AFCON is one of the most important objectives for African national teams.
The continent has a highly competitive international football environment. Established powers regularly face difficult away matches, while emerging nations have increasingly shown that they can challenge more famous opponents.
The 2027 qualification campaign is particularly interesting because several groups contain traditional football powers alongside teams capable of causing surprises.
The qualification process will ultimately determine which 21 teams join the three automatically qualified hosts at the finals.
AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Format
The main qualification stage consists of 48 teams divided into 12 groups of four.
Each team plays six matches in a home-and-away format, facing each of the other three teams twice.
In groups without a host nation, the top two teams qualify for AFCON 2027.
However, Groups D, H and L contain one of the three co-hosts. Kenya is in Group D, Uganda is in Group H and Tanzania is in Group L.
Because the host nations already have guaranteed places, only the highest-ranked non-host team in each of those three groups will qualify.
This creates an unusual situation in those groups, where finishing second does not automatically guarantee qualification.
Preliminary Round: How the Qualifiers Started
Before the 48-team group stage, CAF organised a preliminary round involving 12 lower-ranked nations.
The teams involved were:
- Lesotho
- Burundi
- Ethiopia
- Eswatini
- South Sudan
- Mauritius
- Chad
- São Tomé and Príncipe
- Djibouti
- Somalia
- Seychelles
- Eritrea
The 12 teams were divided into two pots, with six ties arranged between the higher-ranked and lower-ranked sides. The six winners progressed into the main qualifying stage.
This preliminary system provided smaller football nations with an opportunity to reach the main qualification competition.
Full AFCON 2027 Qualifying Groups
The main qualification draw produced 12 groups.
Group A
- Morocco
- Gabon
- Niger
- Lesotho
Morocco will be one of the major teams to watch in this group. Gabon also brings considerable experience, while Niger and Lesotho will attempt to challenge the two more established sides.
Group B
- Egypt
- Angola
- Malawi
- South Sudan
Egypt, one of the most successful teams in AFCON history, headline Group B. Angola and Malawi will provide competitive opposition, while South Sudan will be looking to make progress against more experienced opponents.
Group C
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Ghana
- The Gambia
- Somalia
This is one of the most intriguing groups because it includes two former African champions in Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
The Gambia have also established themselves as a competitive AFCON side, while Somalia enter the group with an opportunity to test themselves against stronger opponents.
Group D
- South Africa
- Guinea
- Kenya
- Eritrea
Kenya are automatically qualified as co-hosts.
That means the main qualification battle among the remaining teams is especially important, because only the highest-ranked non-Kenyan team will advance.
South Africa and Guinea therefore have considerable pressure on them from the opening matches.
Group E
- DR Congo
- Equatorial Guinea
- Sierra Leone
- Zimbabwe
DR Congo will be among the teams attracting attention in this section, but Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe have enough experience to make the group competitive.
Group F
- Burkina Faso
- Benin
- Mauritania
- Central African Republic
Burkina Faso and Benin meet in one of the opening headline matches. Mauritania and the Central African Republic will also be looking to collect important points early in the campaign.
Group G
- Cameroon
- Comoros
- Namibia
- Congo
Cameroon bring major AFCON pedigree to Group G.
Comoros have become increasingly competitive at continental level, while Namibia and Congo will attempt to stay involved in the qualification race.
Group H
- Tunisia
- Uganda
- Libya
- Botswana
Uganda are automatically qualified as co-hosts.
Therefore, Tunisia, Libya and Botswana are competing for the remaining qualifying place from the group.
Group I
- Algeria
- Zambia
- Togo
- Burundi
Algeria headline Group I and face opposition from Zambia, Togo and Burundi.
The group contains teams with significant African football histories, making the race for qualification an important one.
Group J
- Senegal
- Mozambique
- Sudan
- Ethiopia
Senegal are among the continent’s leading national teams and enter the campaign under new coach Patrick Vieira.
Mozambique and Sudan are also expected to provide difficult tests, while Ethiopia will be looking to compete for points.
Group K
- Mali
- Cape Verde
- Rwanda
- Liberia
Mali and Cape Verde are two teams to watch closely in this group.
Both have developed strong reputations in recent international competitions, while Rwanda and Liberia will be aiming to make the group race more unpredictable.
Group L
- Nigeria
- Madagascar
- Tanzania
- Guinea-Bissau
Tanzania are automatically qualified as one of the tournament hosts.
That leaves Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau competing for the one additional qualification place available from the group.
AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Schedule
The qualification campaign is being played across three FIFA international windows.
Matchdays 1 and 2
The first two rounds are scheduled between 21 September and 6 October 2026, with the group-stage matches beginning on 24 September. CAF’s confirmed fixtures place the opening group games through late September and early October.
Matchdays 3 and 4
The middle stage of the qualification campaign will take place between 9 and 17 November 2026.
These matches could become particularly important because teams will have a clearer understanding of their position in the group standings.
Matchdays 5 and 6
The final two rounds are scheduled between 22 and 30 March 2027.
By the end of these matches, the full list of teams heading to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda should be established.
Biggest Opening Matches
The opening round contains several fixtures that immediately attract attention.
Côte d’Ivoire vs Ghana
One of the standout matches is the meeting between Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
The two West African neighbours have long been important forces in African football, making their Group C encounter one of the most anticipated opening fixtures.
Morocco vs Gab begin their campaign at home against Gabon.
Morocco have been one of Africa’s strongest international teams in recent years, while Gabon have experienced players capable of producing difficult matches.
Egypt vs Angola
Seven-time African champions Egypt host Angola.
Egypt’s historical record makes them one of the most recognisable teams in AFCON qualification, but Angola will aim to make the trip to Cairo a challenging one.
Algeria vs Zambia
Algeria host Zambia in another important opening fixture.
Both nations have significant AFCON histories, and the result could influence the early Group I standings.
South Africa vs Guinea
South Africa face Guinea in Group D.
Because Kenya are automatically qualified, the outcome of this match could have an important effect on the race for the single non-host qualification place.
Nigeria vs Madagascar
Nigeria begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar.
With Tanzania already guaranteed a place as a co-host, Nigeria’s matches against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau carry additional importance.
Top Players to Watch in AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
The qualification campaign features numerous internationally recognised players.
Mohamed Salah – Egypt
Mohamed Salah remains one of Africa’s most prominent footballers.
The Egyptian forward has enjoyed a long career at the highest level of European football and brings significant international experience to Egypt’s campaign.
His creativity, goalscoring ability and experience make him a major player to watch whenever Egypt take the field.
Victor Osimhen – Nigeria
Victor Osimhen is another major African attacking talent.
The Nigerian striker has established himself as one of the continent’s most recognised goalscorers.
However, CAF reported that Nigeria began the opening qualification campaign without Osimhen because of injury, making his eventual availability an important storyline for the team.
Sadio Mané – Senegal
Senegal’s qualification campaign will also attract attention because of the experience of players such as Sadio Mané.
Mané has been one of Africa’s most successful forwards of the modern era and has extensive international tournament experience.
Achraf Hakimi – Morocco
Morocco’s squad includes experienced players such as Achraf Hakimi.
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back is known for his pace, attacking contribution and ability to operate effectively from wide areas.
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria
Riyad Mahrez remains one of Algeria’s most recognisable players.
His technical ability and experience at international level make him a key figure whenever Algeria compete in major African tournaments.
Thomas Partey – Ghana
Ghana have traditionally relied on experienced midfielders, and Thomas Partey’s international experience adds another important dimension to the Black Stars.
His ability to control midfield areas can be important during difficult qualifying matches.
Young Players Could Also Make an Impact
AFCON qualification is not only about established stars.
African football continues to produce young players who are moving into prominent roles at club and international level.
For national teams, qualification windows can provide opportunities for emerging players to establish themselves.
Coaches must balance experience with youth, particularly because qualification involves several matches across different international windows.
A young player who performs well in one or two qualifiers can quickly become an important part of the national-team setup.
Why Home Advantage Could Be Important
African qualification matches often involve long-distance travel, different climates and challenging away environments.
Playing at home can therefore be important.
Teams must collect points on their own grounds while also trying to avoid losing valuable matches away from home.
The home-and-away format means that every result can influence the final group table.
A strong start could provide a team with momentum, while early defeats could create pressure before the later matchdays.
The Special Situation of the Three Hosts
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda occupy a unique position.
All three nations are automatically qualified because they are hosting AFCON 2027.
However, they are still participating in the qualification groups.
Kenya are in Group D, Uganda are in Group H and Tanzania are in Group L.
Their opponents therefore have only one available qualifying place in each of those groups.
This makes those three sections different from the other nine groups.
AFCON 2027 Will Return to East Africa
The tournament will represent an important moment for East African football.
AFCON 2027 will be staged across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, making it the first edition of the competition to be jointly hosted by three countries.
CAF has described the event as a return of the Nations Cup to East Africa after more than five decades.
The tournament is scheduled to begin on 19 June 2027 and conclude on 17 July 2027.
What Makes the Qualification Campaign Interesting?
There are several reasons why the AFCON 2027 qualifiers deserve attention.
First, several traditional African football powers are spread across different groups.
Second, the presence of automatically qualified hosts changes the mathematics in three groups.
Third, some established teams face difficult opening fixtures.
Finally, the qualification campaign provides opportunities for emerging nations to compete against stronger opponents.
African international football has repeatedly shown that rankings and reputation do not always determine individual match results.
What Fans Should Watch During the Qualifiers
Fans following the competition should pay attention to several factors.
Group Standings
Points will be extremely important because qualification is determined by final group positions.
Goal Difference
In a closely contested group, goal difference can become significant when teams finish level on points.
Away Results
Teams that perform well away from home can put themselves in a strong position before the final rounds.
Player Availability
Injuries, suspensions and club commitments can affect national-team squads during international windows.
Nigeria’s opening campaign, for example, has already received attention because Osimhen was unavailable through injury.
Coaching Changes
Several teams are entering new phases under different coaches.
South Africa, for example, are beginning a new era under Pitso Mosimane, while Senegal are starting a new period under Patrick Vieira.
When Will AFCON 2027 Qualification Finish?
The final two matchdays are scheduled for March 2027.
Matches from 22 to 30 March 2027 will determine the final qualification places.
The completion of these fixtures will establish the 24-team lineup for the tournament in East Africa.
What Happens After Qualification?
Once the qualifiers are completed, attention will turn toward the final tournament.
The 24 qualified teams will travel to Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for the AFCON 2027 finals.
The tournament will feature Africa’s leading national teams alongside emerging sides that successfully navigate the qualification campaign.
For players, the tournament will offer an opportunity to compete for one of the most important trophies in African football.
Conclusion
The AFCON 2027 qualifiers provide a long and competitive road to the tournament in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Its 48 teams divided into 12 groups, the campaign features major football nations such as Morocco, Egypt, Senegal, Nigeria, Algeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon and South Africa.
The qualification format is straightforward in most groups: the top two teams qualify. However, the groups containing co-hosts Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have a different system because those hosts already have automatic places.
The first two matchdays are taking place between late September and early October 2026, followed by another two matchdays in November and the final two rounds in March 2027.
With major fixtures such as Côte d’Ivoire vs Ghana, Egypt vs Angola, Morocco vs Gabon, Algeria vs Zambia, South Africa vs Guinea and Nigeria vs Madagascar, the qualification campaign already has plenty of high-profile matches to follow.
The road to East Africa has begun, and by March 2027 the 24-team AFCON 2027 lineup will be complete.