The draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) qualifiers was finalized in Cairo on Tuesday, May 19, setting the stage for an intense campaign. All 48 participating nations now know their path to qualification, with teams divided into 12 groups of four. The top two finishers from each group will advance to the tournament’s final phase, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.

The qualifying journey kicks off with two matchdays in September and October 2026, culminating in decisive clashes during March 2027.

Group breakdowns for the CAN 2027 qualifiers

Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho

Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan

Group C: Ivory Coast, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia

Group D: South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, 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, 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, Guinea-Bissau