The much-anticipated draw for the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2027 qualifiers took place this Tuesday, May 19, in Egypt, officially setting the competitive landscape for nations vying for a spot in the continent’s premier football spectacle. Forty-eight national teams now stand informed of their challenging journeys ahead.
These 48 participating teams have been meticulously organized into 12 distinct groups, each comprising four formidable squads. The stakes are high, as only the top two teams from each group will earn direct qualification to the final phase of the CAN, which will be co-hosted by the East African nations of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Football enthusiasts can mark their calendars, as the initial two matchdays of these crucial qualifiers are slated for September and October 2026. The final decisive rounds of the group stage, which will determine the ultimate contenders, are scheduled for March 2027.
Here is the complete breakdown of the 12 groups:
Groupe A: Maroc, Gabon, Niger et Lesotho
Groupe B: Egypte, Angola, Malawi et Soudan du sud
Groupe C: Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Gambie et Somalie
Groupe D: Afrique du Sud, Guinée, Kenya et Érythrée
Groupe E: RDC, Guinée équatoriale, Sierra Leone et Zimbabwe
Groupe F: Burkina Faso, Bénin, Mauritanie et République centrafricaine
Groupe G: Cameroun, Comores, Namibie et Congo
Groupe H: Tunisie, Ouganda, Libye et Botswana
Groupe I: Algérie, Zambie, Togo et Burundi
Groupe J: Sénégal, Mozambique, Soudan et Éthiopie
Of particular interest for those following Mali Voice news and Mali English reports, the national team finds itself in Group K. The Eagles of Mali will contend with Cap Vert, Rwanda, and Libéria in what promises to be a challenging qualification campaign. Football remains a key part of Mali current affairs, and this draw will undoubtedly spark discussions across Bamako news outlets and among fans eager for the latest West Africa Mali news.
Groupe L: Nigéria, Madagascar, Tanzanie et Guinée Bissau