The roadmap for the next Africa Cup of Nations is beginning to take shape as Nigeria’s Super Eagles prepare to find out their path to the 2027 tournament. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has scheduled the official draw for the qualification groups on Tuesday, May 19. This event will set the stage for the continent’s top teams to battle for a spot in the prestigious competition.
A total of 48 nations are expected to participate in the qualifying rounds, including the co-hosting trio of Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda. The format remains highly competitive, with the teams being split into 12 distinct groups of four. To ensure a place in the finals, the Super Eagles must aim for a top-two finish in their group, as only the leading two teams from each section will secure a ticket to the main event.
Fans of the three-time African champions are eager to see the team build on their recent performances. Nigeria is coming off a solid outing at the AFCON 2025 finals in Morocco, where they finished as the third-best team on the continent. With the 2027 qualifiers packed into a tight schedule, the matches are set to take place across three FIFA international windows in September, October, and November.
CAF has also confirmed the timeline for the final tournament, which is promised to be a landmark edition hosted across East Africa. The opening match of the competition is slated for Saturday, June 19, 2027, with the grand finale taking place a month later on Saturday, July 17. For the Super Eagles and their supporters, the journey back to the continental stage truly begins with the reveal of their opponents this May.
