The road to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2027) officially begins today as 48 nations prepare to discover their qualification paths during the draw ceremony in Cairo, Egypt.
The globally televised event will take place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association from 12h00 GMT, setting the stage for what promises to be another fiercely contested race to Africa’s biggest football tournament.
The ceremony carries added significance as the 2027 edition marks the long-awaited return of the Africa Cup of Nations to East Africa for the first time in 51 years. Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will jointly host the tournament, scheduled to run from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Adding star power to the occasion, four celebrated African football icons will assist with conducting the draw. Former Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary, Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong, ex-Côte d’Ivoire winger Max-Alain Gradel and DR Congo legend Trésor Mputu will all take part in the ceremony.
The 48 participating nations have been divided into four pots according to the latest FIFA rankings, with several continental heavyweights placed in Pot 1. Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt and reigning African champions Côte d’Ivoire headline the top-seeded nations expected to avoid one another in the group stage.
Pot 2 features emerging contenders including Ghana, Zambia and Cape Verde, while co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are spread across Pots 2 and 3 despite already qualifying automatically for the finals.
The AFCON 2027 qualifiers will ultimately determine the remaining 24 teams that will compete at the expanded continental showpiece alongside the three host nations.
Watch the draw live below:
