Nigeria’s Super Eagles will on Tuesday learn the teams they must overcome in the race to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football conducts the official draw in Cairo, Egypt.
The draw ceremony will take place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association ahead of the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Branded AFCON PAMOJA 2027, the competition will mark the first time in history that three nations will co-host the continental championship.
Nigeria, winners of the tournament in 1980, 1994 and 2013, will be aiming for another successful campaign after finishing as runners-up in 2023 and claiming third place in the 2025 edition.
CAF confirmed that 48 countries, including the three host nations, will participate in the qualifying series.
The teams will be split into 12 groups containing four countries each, with the top two sides from every group securing qualification for the finals.
However, because Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have already qualified automatically as hosts, only one additional country will advance from each of their groups.
The qualification matches are expected to be played during three FIFA international windows between September 2026 and March 2027.
According to CAF, the opening two rounds of matches will take place between September 21 and October 6, 2026.
The next set of fixtures is scheduled for November 9 to 17, 2026, while the final qualifying games will be played from March 22 to 30, 2027.
CAF also noted that the three East African hosts see the tournament as an opportunity to boost infrastructure, tourism and economic investment while showcasing the region’s football culture to the rest of the continent.
