The Confederation of African Football will officially begin the qualification process for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday with the conduct of the qualifying draw in Cairo, Egypt.
The tournament, which will be jointly staged by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, is set to become the first AFCON edition to be co-hosted by three nations.
CAF made the announcement in a statement published on its official website on Sunday, noting that the draw ceremony would hold at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association.
“On Tuesday afternoon in Cairo, 48 nations will learn their route to the finals of a tournament already carrying enormous significance long before a ball is kicked.
“The draw, which takes place at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, officially launches the next phase of the journey towards a tournament CAF hopes will unite an entire region under the spirit of “PAMOJA” — the Swahili word for “together,”” CAF said.
The continental football body stated that the competition, branded “AFCON PAMOJA 2027”, will take place from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
CAF also noted that the championship would mark the return of the Africa Cup of Nations to East Africa for the first time in more than five decades, since Ethiopia hosted the event in 1976.
Under the qualification format, the 48 participating countries will be drawn into 12 groups containing four teams each. The top two teams from every group will qualify automatically for the finals.
However, since the three host countries — Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda — have already secured automatic qualification, only one other team from each of their groups will earn a place at the tournament.
READ ALSO: Super Eagles Coach Eguavoen Refutes Resignation Rumors Amidst AFCON Qualifiers
CAF said the qualifiers would be played during three FIFA international windows scheduled between September 2026 and March 2027.
“Matchdays one and two are scheduled for 21 September to 6 October 2026, while the third and fourth rounds of fixtures will take place from 9 to 17 November 2026. The final qualification matches are set for 22 to 30 March 2027.
“African giants such as Senegal, Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, Nigeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa will all be among the favourites to reach the finals, but recent AFCON qualification campaigns have shown there are few easy routes left on the continent.
“Smaller football nations continue to narrow the gap, with countries such as Comoros and Gambia proving in recent years that African football’s balance of power is evolving rapidly,” it said.
CAF added that AFCON PAMOJA 2027 is expected to further expand the commercial appeal and international visibility achieved by recent editions held in Côte d’Ivoire and Morocco.
The football body also highlighted the anticipated economic and developmental benefits for the East African co-hosts, particularly in infrastructure, tourism and regional integration.
“For the co-hosts, the tournament represents more than just football,” CAF stated.
“Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda view AFCON 2027 as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to accelerate infrastructure development, tourism and international investment while showcasing East Africa’s culture and passion for the game on the continental stage.”