Rabat, Morocco – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the draw for the Preliminary Round Qualifiers of the Africa Cup of Nations 2027, officially launching the qualification campaign for Africa’s flagship football competition.
The finals will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, marking the first time three nations jointly stage the tournament. A total of 32 countries will compete at the AFCON 2027 finals, with the three hosts qualifying automatically.
Qualification Overview
Qualification start date: 23 March 2026
Total teams at finals: 32
Automatically qualified hosts: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania
Seeding basis: FIFA World Rankings (19 November 2025)
All CAF member associations were eligible to enter. Teams ranked 1–42 received a bye to the group stage, while teams ranked 43–54 entered the preliminary round.
Draw Details
Venue: Rabat, Morocco
Preliminary Round Format: Two-legged knockout ties
Advancement: Six winners progress to the group stage qualifiers
The first leg of each tie will be hosted by the lower-ranked team.
Preliminary Round Pots
Pot 1 (Higher-ranked):
Lesotho, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eswatini, South Sudan, Mauritius
Pot 2 (Lower-ranked):
Chad, São Tomé and Príncipe, Djibouti, Somalia, Seychelles, Eritrea
Confirmed Preliminary Round Fixtures
Djibouti vs South Sudan
Chad vs Burundi
Somalia vs Mauritius
Seychelles vs Lesotho
Eritrea vs Eswatini
São Tomé and Príncipe vs Ethiopia
Match window: 23–31 March 2026 (home and away)
Teams by Ranking Status
Bye to Group Stage (Top 42)
Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Ivory Coast, Mali, DR Congo, Cameroon, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, Uganda, Angola, Zambia, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros, Niger, Libya, Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritania, Gambia, Sudan, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Togo, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Guinea-Bissau, Congo, Botswana, Central African Republic, Liberia
Preliminary Round Entrants
Lesotho, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eswatini, South Sudan, Mauritius, Chad, São Tomé and Príncipe, Djibouti, Somalia, Seychelles, Eritrea
Qualifiers Schedule
| Round | Matchday | Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Preliminary Round | First & Second Legs | 23–31 March 2026 |
| Group Stage | Matchday 1 | 21 Sept – 6 Oct 2026 |
| Matchday 2 | 21 Sept – 6 Oct 2026 | |
| Matchday 3 | 21 Sept – 6 Oct 2026 | |
| Matchday 4 | 21 Sept – 6 Oct 2026 | |
| Matchday 5 | 9–17 Nov 2026 | |
| Matchday 6 | 9–17 Nov 2026 |
With the preliminary draw complete, Africa’s journey to AFCON 2027 officially begins. The decisive March 2026 ties will determine the final entrants to the group stage, setting the stage for a continent-wide battle for places at the 32-team finals in East Africa.