The draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers took place on May 20, 2026, in Cairo, Egypt. Morocco, Algeria, and Senegal were placed in relatively favorable groups, while Ivory Coast faces a challenging path.
Morocco, the 2025 AFCON host and semifinalist, was drawn into Group B with Gabon, Central African Republic, and Lesotho. Algeria, a two-time champion, is in Group E with Equatorial Guinea, Togo, and Liberia. Senegal, the 2021 champion, is in Group L with Congo, South Sudan, and Mauritania.
Ivory Coast, the 2023 AFCON winner, faces a tough Group G with Cameroon, Zambia, and Kenya. This group includes three former champions, making it one of the most competitive in the qualifiers.
The qualifiers will run from September 2026 to September 2027, with the top two teams from each of the 12 groups advancing to the final tournament in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
