AFCON 2027
The AFCON 2027 Qualifier Draw: Every Group, Explained
6 min read · RibbonsXP Team
48 nations now know exactly who stands in their way. CAF held the qualifier draw in Cairo on 19 May 2026, conducted by African football legends Max-Alain Gradel, William Troost-Ekong, Essam El Hadary and Trésor Mputu. Here's how it broke down — and what it means.
The format in plain language
48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. Each group plays a round-robin — home and away fixtures across three separate international windows. The top two teams in every group qualify automatically.
The three co-hosts — Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda — are already in. But they still play their qualifying groups. In each of their three groups, only the highest-ranked non-host team joins them at the finals, since the host place is already secured. That means 21 spots are up for grabs from the 45 non-host nations.
The three qualifier windows
Window 1 — Matchdays 1 & 2: 21 September to 6 October 2026
Window 2 — Matchdays 3 & 4: 9 to 17 November 2026
Window 3 — Matchdays 5 & 6: 22 to 30 March 2027
After Matchday 6 in late March 2027, the 21 qualifiers are confirmed — roughly ten weeks before the opening match on 19 June.
Every group from the Cairo draw
Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
Group C: Côte d'Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Somalia
Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya *(host)*, Eritrea
Group E: DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo
Group H: Tunisia, Uganda *(host)*, Libya, Botswana
Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania *(host)*, Guinea-Bissau
The storylines the draw produced
Kenya vs South Africa is personal. Kenya coach Benni McCarthy will face the country he played for — and where he still holds the international goal-scoring record, with 31 goals. Guinea and Eritrea complete Group D.
A West African derby in Group C. 2023 champions Côte d'Ivoire face Ghana, The Gambia and Somalia — a group with real continental pedigree on one side and emerging ambition on the other.
Group H is brutal for Uganda's group rivals. Tunisia, Libya and Botswana are competing for a single qualifying spot, since Uganda's place is already secure.
Nigeria lands in Tanzania's group. Group L pits Nigeria against Madagascar, Tanzania (host) and Guinea-Bissau — only one of Nigeria, Madagascar or Guinea-Bissau advances alongside the hosts.
Why qualifier results affect your travel plans
If you're planning to travel specifically to see your national team, you can now actually map the route:
Option 1: Book now, adjust later.
Lock in flights and accommodation for the tournament window. Qualification is decided by late March 2027 — if your team doesn't make it, you have over two months to decide whether to still go (often worth it anyway) or adjust your plans.
Option 2: Book for the experience, not the team.
The AFCON tournament atmosphere in East Africa in June 2027 will be extraordinary regardless of which 24 teams are there. Book for the Final weekend or semi-finals. The best teams in Africa will be there regardless of how the groups above shake out.
The historical context CAF mentioned
CAF noted that PAMOJA 2027 marks the first time East Africa has hosted AFCON since Ethiopia in 1976 — 51 years between hosting opportunities for the region. The significance isn't lost on anyone in Kenya, Tanzania, or Uganda: this tournament carries a weight of cultural pride that will make the atmosphere unlike any previous edition.
33 non-host teams will chase 21 spots across 12 groups. Most won't make it. But the 24 that do will converge on East Africa for a month in June and July 2027 for something genuinely historic.
Stay updated
Register with RibbonsXP and we'll send you matchday results, group standings, and updated package availability as the qualifiers unfold. The earlier you're in, the better your options.
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*Group draw information sourced from CAF's official announcement, 19 May 2026.*