Super Eagles To know AFCON 2027 Qualifying Opponents May 19

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will discover their opponents for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers when the official draw is conducted on May 19.

The draw will set the stage for what promises to be a fiercely contested qualification campaign, with 48 national teams vying for places at the tournament, which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Under the competition format, the teams will be divided into 12 groups of four, with only the top two sides from each group advancing to the finals. The qualifiers are scheduled to take place across three FIFA international windows in September, October and November, ensuring a condensed and high-intensity series of matches.

Nigeria heads into the draw with renewed optimism following a third-place finish at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, a performance that reaffirmed the team’s status among Africa’s elite.

The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, are expected to be among the top-seeded teams, but will still face a challenging path given the increasing competitiveness across the continent.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the 2027 tournament will run from June 19 to July 17, marking the first time the competition will be hosted across three countries.

The expanded hosting arrangement is expected to bring a unique flavour to the tournament, while also showcasing East Africa’s growing football infrastructure.

For Nigeria, attention now turns to the draw, which will determine the immediate hurdles on the road to qualification. With expectations high among supporters, the Super Eagles will be aiming not only to qualify comfortably but to build a team capable of challenging for the title.