Essam El Hadary draws during the 2027 CAF Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers PAMOJA draw in Cairo, Egypt on 19 May 2026 ©Mostafa Emira/BackpagePix
Tuesday May 19, 2026. 15:14
Following the official draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers on Tuesday, here’s a look at how teams will stack up at the showpiece set to be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda next year.
Regarding the draw itself, 48 nations were divided into four pots of 12 teams, with one team from each pot placed into a group, while the top two sides will advance to the next phase of the tournament.
Defending champions Morocco will take on Gabon, Niger and Lesotho in Group A, while Group C features juggernauts Ivory Coast and Ghana.
Then, South Africa will reunite with one of their favourite sons in the competition, as Benni McCarthy’s Kenya have been pitted alongside Bafana Bafana in Group D.
Here is the full draw:
Group A
Morocco
Gabon
Niger
Lesotho
Group B
Egypt
Angola
Malawi
South Sudan
Group C
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Gambia
Somalia
Group D
South Africa
Guinea
Kenya
Eritrea
Group E
Democratic Republic of Congo
Equatorial Guinea
Sierra Leone
Zimbabwe
Group F
Burkina Faso
Benin
Mauritania
Central African Republic
Group G
Cameroon
Comoros
Namibia
Congo
Group H
Tunisia
Uganda
Libya
Botswana
Group I
Algeria
Zambia
Togo
Burundi
Group J
Senegal
Mozambique
Sudan
Ethiopia
Group K
Mali
Cape Verde
Rwanda
Liberia
Group L
Nigeria
Madagascar
Tanzania
Guinea-Bissau