AFCON 2027 qualifiers draw set for Cairo as teams learn group paths

The draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers will be held Tuesday at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo, ahead of the tournament to be staged in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

A total of 48 teams have been divided into four pots based on the latest FIFA rankings. Ghana and Cape Verde, both qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, were not included in Pot 1.

The two sides secured their World Cup spots for the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico starting June 11, despite missing out on qualification for the 2025 AFCON.

According to CAF, 10 of the 12 teams in Pot 1 have previously won the continental title, including Morocco, one of Africa’s top-ranked sides.

The top two teams from each of the nine groups will qualify for the finals. Co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have already secured automatic qualification for the tournament, scheduled from June 19 to July 17, 2027, but will still compete in the qualifiers.

Due to their participation, only one team will advance from any group that includes one of the host nations.

Concerns have persisted over the readiness of the three East African countries to host the tournament, which would be the region’s first since Ethiopia hosted in 1976.

CAF President Patrice Motsepe said the tournament would proceed as scheduled.

“The next Africa Cup of Nations will take place in East Africa, and I have no doubt about that despite the challenges,” he said.

The qualifying campaign will begin with the first two matchdays on Sept. 21 and Oct. 6, followed by fixtures on Nov. 9 and 17, and concluding with the final rounds on March 22 and 30, 2027.