CAF To Hold AFCON 2027 Qualifying Draw In Cairo On Tuesday

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will on Tuesday conduct the qualifying draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), officially launching the race to the continental showpiece co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

CAF confirmed the development in a statement on Sunday, revealing that the ceremony will take place at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo.

CAF said, “On Tuesday afternoon in Cairo, 48 nations will learn their route to the finals of a tournament already carrying enormous significance long before a ball is kicked.

“The draw, which takes place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, officially launches the next phase of the journey towards a tournament CAF hopes will unite an entire region under the spirit of “PAMOJA”, the Swahili word for “together,””.

The tournament, tagged AFCON PAMOJA 2027, will run from June 19 to July 17, 2027 and marks the first time three host nations will stage the competition. It will also signal the return of AFCON to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia staged the event in 1976.

CAF said the 48 participating countries will be split into 12 groups of four teams, with the top two sides in each group securing automatic qualification. However, because the hosts have already qualified, only one additional team will progress from each of their groups.

The governing body confirmed that matches will be played during three FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027.

“Matchdays one and two are scheduled for 21 September to 6 October 2026, while the third and fourth rounds of fixtures will take place from 9 to 17 November 2026. The final qualification matches are set for 22 to 30 March 2027,” a CAF statement reads.

“African giants such as Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa will all be among the favourites to reach the finals, but recent AFCON qualification campaigns have shown there are few easy routes left on the continent.

“Smaller football nations continue to narrow the gap, with countries such as Comoros and Gambia proving in recent years that African football’s balance of power is evolving rapidly.

“For the co-hosts, the tournament represents more than just football. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda view AFCON 2027 as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate infrastructure development, tourism and international investment while showcasing East Africa’s culture and passion for the game on the continental stage.”