Super Eagles Await Rivals as CAF Set for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Draw

Posted : 18 May 2026

Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, will on Tuesday learn their opponents for the qualification race to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations as the Confederation of African Football prepares to stage the official draw in Cairo, Egypt.

The draw ceremony marks the formal beginning of the road to the continental showpiece, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda under the theme “AFCON PAMOJA 2027.”

CAF confirmed that 48 nations will compete in the qualifiers, with the teams to be split into 12 groups of four. At the end of the qualification campaign, the top two sides from each group will secure places at the tournament.

However, with the three host countries already guaranteed qualification, only one additional nation will progress from any group containing Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda.

According to CAF, the “PAMOJA” slogan, a Swahili word meaning “together,” reflects the spirit of unity and regional cooperation the tournament aims to promote across East Africa.

The 2027 edition will also make history as the first AFCON to be co-hosted by three countries and the first to return to East Africa since Ethiopia staged the competition in 1976.

Qualification matches will be played across three FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027. Matchdays one and two are slated for September 21 to October 6, 2026, while the third and fourth rounds will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026. The final set of fixtures is scheduled for March 22 to 30, 2027.

Nigeria will be among the continent’s top football nations seeking qualification, alongside Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and South Africa.

CAF also highlighted the growing competitiveness across African football, noting that emerging countries such as Comoros and Gambia have continued to challenge the traditional powerhouses in recent campaigns.

Beyond the competition itself, the continental body believes AFCON 2027 will boost tourism, infrastructure development, and cultural exchange across the host region while celebrating Africa’s passion for football.

The upcoming draw serves as a crucial milestone for the Super Eagles as they map out their strategy to secure a spot in this historic tournament. With the qualification schedule spanning several high-stakes international windows, football enthusiasts across the continent eagerly anticipate the group selections. The road to East Africa promises intense competition as established giants and rising teams vie for continental glory.

Super Eagles Await Rivals as CAF Set for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Draw

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