The qualification campaign for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is expected to be fiercely contested, according to recent analyses. The tournament, originally scheduled to be hosted by Guinea, was reassigned after Guinea was deemed not ready, and the new host is yet to be confirmed as of May 2026.
Qualifying matches are set to begin in 2026, with 48 teams competing for 24 spots in the final tournament. The draw for the qualifiers took place in February 2026, grouping teams into 12 pools of four. Notable groups include Group A with Senegal, Burkina Faso, and South Sudan, and Group B featuring Cameroon, Namibia, and Kenya.
Several traditional powerhouses face challenging paths. For instance, Nigeria's Super Eagles are in Group D alongside Benin, Libya, and Rwanda, while Egypt's Pharaohs are in Group H with Cape Verde, Mauritania, and Botswana. The expanded format, increased from 24 to 48 teams for the finals, adds complexity to the qualification process.
As of May 19, 2026, no matches have been played yet, but the road to the 2027 AFCON promises intense competition. The final tournament is tentatively scheduled for June-July 2027, pending host confirmation.
