Africa’s next Nations Cup begins to take shape this week as 48 national teams enter the main qualifying group stage for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
The teams have been divided into 12 groups of four, with the opening two matchdays running from late September into early October. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are already guaranteed places as co-hosts of the finals.
The stakes arrive immediately.
Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana meet in one of the opening round’s headline fixtures, while Morocco host Gabon, Egypt face Angola and Algeria take on Zambia as several of the continent’s established powers begin their campaigns.
For most groups, the top two teams will advance.
But qualification works differently in groups containing one of the three co-hosts. Because Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are already through, only the highest-ranked non-host nation in those groups will claim the remaining qualification place.
That rule puts added pressure on Nigeria.
The Super Eagles begin their Group L campaign against Madagascar on 25 September, while Tanzania face Guinea-Bissau in the group’s other opening fixture. Nigeria then travel to Guinea-Bissau on 29 September.
Nigeria will start without Victor Osimhen, who has been ruled out of the opening two qualifiers with a muscle injury. CAF reported that the Nigeria Football Federation confirmed his absence as he continues his recovery.
That removes one of Nigeria’s most important attacking players at the start of a group in which there is little room for an early stumble.
Across the continent, the opening round offers similar tests.
Morocco begin against Gabon, Egypt host Angola, Algeria meet Zambia and Senegal open against Mozambique. Côte d’Ivoire’s meeting with Ghana is one of the most prominent fixtures in the first set of matches.
The qualifying campaign will continue across three international windows, with Matchdays 3 and 4 scheduled for November and the final two rounds in March 2027.
At the end of that process, 24 teams will assemble in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda for the finals from 19 June to 17 July 2027. It will be the first Africa Cup of Nations jointly hosted by three countries and the competition’s return to East Africa for the first time since 1976.
Before then, the continent has six group matches to separate contenders from casualties.
For Nigeria, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Morocco, Egypt and the rest, the first opportunity to take control has arrived.
