Forty-two nations will begin their quest for a place at the 2027 CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt after the qualifying draw was held in Cairo.
The draw took place on Tuesday, 25 August, with the competition also serving as Africa’s qualification tournament for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Egypt will host the 2027 Under-23 AFCON and have automatically qualified for the finals.
Seven other nations will join the hosts at the continental tournament, meaning the qualifying campaign represents the first major step towards Olympic qualification.
The first round has produced several regional match-ups, including Sierra Leone against Burkina Faso and Mauritania versus DR Congo.
Sao Tome and Principe will face Equatorial Guinea, while Togo have been paired with Libya.
Tunisia will meet Benin, with East African neighbours Kenya and Tanzania also drawn against each other.
Djibouti will take on South Sudan, while Ethiopia have been drawn against Uganda.
Rwanda will face Sudan in another first-round tie.
Comoros will play Madagascar, while Angola have been paired with Namibia.
Seychelles will meet Botswana, with Malawi facing Eswatini.
Zimbabwe will complete the list of first-round ties with a meeting against Mauritius.
The first legs of the qualifiers are scheduled for 9 November, with the teams set to begin their campaigns with the aim of advancing through the subsequent rounds.
The Under-23 AFCON has added importance because of its direct connection to the Olympic Games.
The 2027 edition in Egypt will determine the African representatives at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, giving the qualifying campaign significance beyond the continental competition itself.
For the 42 nations involved, the immediate challenge will be to negotiate their respective ties and move closer to the finals in Egypt.
The tournament will also provide an important platform for young players seeking to establish themselves at international level.
Egypt’s automatic qualification as hosts means the remaining teams are competing for the seven places available at the finals.
The opening round therefore marks the beginning of a long route for the participating nations, with each side needing to navigate the qualifying stages successfully to reach Egypt.
Among the most notable ties is the meeting between Mauritania and DR Congo, while Sierra Leone’s clash with Burkina Faso will also produce a West African contest.
Kenya and Tanzania will face each other in an East African battle, while Tunisia and Benin will meet in another potentially competitive tie.
The first legs on 9 November will provide the first opportunity for the teams to establish an advantage before the return fixtures.
| Fixture | First leg |
|---|---|
| Sierra Leone vs Burkina Faso | 9 November |
| Mauritania vs DR Congo | 9 November |
| São Tomé and Príncipe vs Equatorial Guinea | 9 November |
| Togo vs Libya | 9 November |
| Tunisia vs Benin | 9 November |
| Kenya vs Tanzania | 9 November |
| Djibouti vs South Sudan | 9 November |
| Ethiopia vs Uganda | 9 November |
| Rwanda vs Sudan | 9 November |
| Comoros vs Madagascar | 9 November |
| Angola vs Namibia | 9 November |
| Seychelles vs Botswana | 9 November |
| Malawi vs Eswatini | 9 November |
| Zimbabwe vs Mauritius | 9 November |
