The Confederation of African Football has announced that the qualifying draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place on Tuesday, officially kickstarting the journey to the continent’s premier football competition.
In a statement released on Sunday, CAF said the draw would be held in Cairo and would determine the paths of 48 participating countries aiming to secure a place at the tournament, which Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will jointly host.
According to CAF, the event marks the beginning of preparations for the competition, tagged “AFCON PAMOJA 2027,” with “Pamoja” meaning “together” in Swahili.
“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 football governing body stated.
CAF noted that the draw, to be held at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, would signal the next phase of preparations for a tournament expected to strengthen regional unity in East Africa.
“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’,” CAF said.
The 2027 edition will be historic as it will be the first time the competition is hosted jointly by three countries. Scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027, the tournament will also mark the return of AFCON to East Africa for the first time since Ethiopia hosted the event in 1976.
CAF explained that the 48 participating nations would be divided into 12 groups of four teams, with the top two teams from each group earning automatic qualification to the finals.
However, the body clarified that Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda have already secured qualification as host nations, meaning only one additional team will emerge from each of their groups.
The qualification matches are expected to be played across 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,” CAF stated.
CAF further noted that traditional football powerhouses including Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, and South Africa are among the favourites to qualify, although recent campaigns have shown increasing competitiveness among smaller football nations.
“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,” the statement added.
The football body also expressed optimism that AFCON PAMOJA 2027 would build on the success of recent editions by boosting tourism, infrastructure development, and regional cooperation in East Africa.
“For the co-hosts, the tournament represents more than just football,” CAF said.
“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.”
