AFCON 2027 qualifiers begin as East Africa prepares to host tournament

Qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations begins on Thursday, launching a campaign in which 48 countries will compete for 24 places at the tournament.

The qualifiers will be played across 12 groups and six rounds. Teams will use a home-and-away format, with each side scheduled to play six matches.

Hosts face special qualification rules

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will cohost the 36th edition of the continental competition. The tournament is scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027, and will be staged at 10 venues across the three countries.

The named host locations are Dar-es-Salaam, Arusha and Zanzibar in Tanzania, Nairobi in Kenya, and Hoima, Kampala and Lira in Uganda. The competition is returning to East Africa for the first time in 51 years, according to the supplied source.

Under the general qualifying arrangement, the top two teams in each group will advance. However, in groups containing Kenya, Uganda or Tanzania, only the highest-ranked team outside the automatically qualified host country will progress.

The draw for the qualifying competition was held in Cairo, Egypt, in May.

Unresolved question over previous title

The qualification campaign begins against the backdrop of an unresolved dispute over the previous Africa Cup of Nations final. Senegal defeated Morocco 1-0 on January 18, with Pape Gueye scoring in extra time.

The Confederation of African Football later stripped Senegal of the title and awarded it to Morocco after reviewing an incident involving an added-time penalty. Senegal appealed the decision, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport is scheduled to hear the case on October 8.

Key player absences

Egypt has included Mohamed Salah in its squad. The source describes Egypt as a record seven-time African champion and Salah as a two-time African Footballer of the Year.

Morocco will begin its campaign without Achraf Hakimi, who is suspended for the opening two matches. Ismael Saibari is also unavailable for three games because of a ban.

Senegal will be without Sadio Mane for its match against Mozambique. Coach Patrick Vieira described the reason for the absence as a “physical issue.”

Nigeria will also start without Victor Osimhen in its opening qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau as he continues recovering from a muscle problem.

Guinea has left Naby Keita out of its squad, while Tunisia’s Hannibal Mejbri and Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo are unavailable because of injuries, according to the supplied information.

Gabon will be without Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after he quit international duty. Riyad Mahrez, Edouard Mendy and Inaki Williams have also ended their international careers this year.

The qualifying campaign will determine the 24-team field for a tournament that Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are preparing to stage across East Africa in 2027.