Super Eagles set to learn 2027 AFCON Qualifying opponents in Cairo draw
Three-time African champions Nigeria will on Tuesday discover their opponents for the qualifying series of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations when the Confederation of African Football conducts the official draw in Cairo, Egypt.
The ceremony will take place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association as preparations continue for the continental tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Branded as AFCON PAMOJA 2027, the competition will make history as the first Africa Cup of Nations to be staged across three host nations.
Nigeria heads into the qualifiers as one of the continent’s most successful teams, having lifted the trophy in 1980, 1994, and 2013. The Super Eagles also finished runners-up at the 2023 edition before claiming third place in 2025.
A total of 48 countries, including the three co-hosts, will compete in the qualification campaign.
CAF confirmed that the teams will be drawn into 12 groups of four, with the top two teams from each group earning automatic qualification for the finals.
However, because Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have already secured places as hosts, only one additional team will qualify from each of the groups containing the co-host nations.
The qualification series will be played during three FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027.
According to CAF, the opening two matchdays are scheduled for September 21 to October 6, 2026, while Matchdays three and four will hold from November 9 to 17, 2026. The final round of qualifying fixtures is billed for March 22 to 30, 2027.
CAF also highlighted the wider significance of the tournament for the East African nations, describing the competition as an opportunity to boost infrastructure, tourism, and international investment while showcasing the region’s football culture and passion to the rest of the continent.
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