The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed that the draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers will take place on May 19, 2026. This marks the beginning of the qualification journey for 48 nations competing for a place in the AFCON PAMOJA 2027 finals.
According to CAF, the draw will include a total of 48 teams, including the co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who have already qualified automatically as hosts of the tournament to be jointly staged in the three East African countries.
Group format
In the draw, the 48 teams will be placed into 12 groups of four teams each. According to the structure, the top two teams in each group will qualify directly for the AFCON 2027 finals.
This system is expected to create strong competition, where every qualifying match will carry significant importance in determining whether a team advances or is eliminated from the race.
Qualifying match schedule
CAF has also announced the windows that will be used for the group stage matches as follows:
- September to October 2026
- November 2026
- March 2027
These periods will be used to complete the qualification process for teams joining the host nations in the 2027 finals.
AFCON PAMOJA 2027
The AFCON 2027 tournament, branded as AFCON PAMOJA 2027, will be historic as it will be the first time the competition is hosted across three countries simultaneously in East Africa. The tournament is expected to elevate football in the region and attract fans from all over the world.
