AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Super Eagles To Discover Opponents On May 19

The path to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is taking clear shape, and for Nigeria’s Super Eagles, the crucial first step arrives on Tuesday, May 19. On that day, the three-time African champions will discover which nations stand between them and a place in the prestigious final tournament, as the official draw for the qualifiers is conducted.

A total of 48 national teams are set to enter the qualifying campaign, including the three co-hosts—Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—who will also compete for places in the finals.

The qualifiers will be compressed into three FIFA international windows, scheduled for September, October, and November of this year, ensuring an intense and fast-paced battle for tickets to the continental showpiece.

Under the approved format, the 48 sides will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each. Only the top two finishers from every group will secure qualification for the AFCON 2027 finals, raising the stakes for every match.

The Super Eagles enter this campaign with renewed confidence, having clinched a third-place finish at the AFCON 2025 finals in Morocco.

That performance reaffirmed Nigeria’s status as a continental powerhouse, and expectations are high for an even stronger showing in 2027.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially confirmed the tournament dates. The opening match of AFCON 2027 will kick off on Saturday, June 19, 2027, and the grand finale will take place exactly four weeks later, on Saturday, July 17, 2027.

The tournament will be jointly hosted by East African nations Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda—marking the first time the competition will be staged across three countries.

For the Super Eagles and their fans, the journey begins in earnest on May 19, when the group-stage opponents are finally revealed.