The AFCON 2027 qualifiers begin on Thursday as 48 African nations launch their campaigns for a place at the next Africa Cup of Nations finals, with the previous tournament’s title still under dispute.
The teams have been split up into 12 groups for a six-round qualification tournament that will run through March next year. The top two teams in nine groups will advance, with the groups of co-host Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda getting just one additional team each.
The 24-team finals are to be played over a three-week period from June 19 to July 17 in each of the three host nations. But the identity of the last champion has not been settled following Senegal’s appeal of a decision which awarded it to Morocco. Senegal pulled out of the game in protest over the final in January when they lost to Morocco and were denied the cup. Now the case will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on October 8.
Morocco come into the qualifying phase with a World Cup trophy – as the continent’s highlight team – and have progressed all the way to the quarter-finals. They start Group A in the home city of Rabat against Gabon before heading to Lesotho for their clashes in Bloemfontein.
There are 12 countries which have to host home matches at neutral venues as their stadiums do not meet CAF’s international standards, including Lesotho.
Senegal host Mozambique in the opening game of Group J in Maputo on Friday. New coach Patrick Vieira leads the way following a poor World Cup performance, and Sadio Mane is one of several key players lacking in his first team.
However, Tunisia have called up only 14 players from their World Cup team and have appointed Moin Chaabani to lead the squad. They open Group H against Uganda as they target an unprecedented 18th consecutive appearance at the finals.
