AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Super Eagles face high-stakes battle in Group L

The draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers has officially concluded and CAF will hold the ceremony in Cairo on May 19.

The 48 participating nations were divided into twelve groups of four teams each as the countries begin their journey towards qualifying for Africa’s biggest football tournament.

The qualification format will allow the winners and runners-up of each group to secure spots for the AFCON 2027 tournament.

However, the situation is different for host countries Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, who have already automatically qualified as co-hosts of the competition.

As a result, only one additional country from the groups containing the host nations will qualify for the tournament.

This creates a tense and highly competitive situation for the teams facing the hosts.

The Nigerian Super Eagles have been placed in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau.

With Tanzania already guaranteed qualification as one of the hosts of the tournament, Nigeria really only has one qualifying spot to fight for in the group.

This development makes Group L particularly dangerous for the Super Eagles.

Also read: It is a great shame that Nigeria has not hosted AFCON since 2000 – Obinna Nsofor

Any mistake could prove costly as only the best eligible team will advance to the AFCON tournament.

Nigeria will have to do their best to avoid what would be considered a major disappointment for one of the giants of African football.

The Super Eagles are expected to face stiff competition from both Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, teams that have shown significant improvements in recent years.

Meanwhile, Tanzania could still play a decisive role even though they have already qualified automatically.

Full qualifying groups for AFCON 2027

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 the 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 me: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi

Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia

Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia

Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau

CAF has confirmed that the qualification series will be played in three international windows between 2026 and 2027:

Days 1 and 2: from September 21 to October 6, 2026
Days 3 and 4: from November 9 to 17, 2026
Days 5 and 6: March 22 to 30, 2027

Once the draw is made, attention will gradually turn to preparations as Africa’s leading nations fight for a place at AFCON 2027.

For Nigeria, the mission is clear: avoid mistakes, dominate Group L and ensure qualification without drama.