Nigeria Drawn Against Tanzania, Madagascar, and Guinea-Bissau in 2027 AFCON Qualifiers

Nigeria will face Guinea-Bissau, Tanzania, and Madagascar in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualification series. The draw, conducted on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt, placed the Super Eagles in a competitive group as they aim for a spot in the upcoming continental tournament, set to be hosted by Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda.

The Super Eagles are no strangers to their group opponents. Nigeria encountered Guinea-Bissau in both the 2021 AFCON group stage and the qualification series for the 2023 edition, as well as during the main tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. The three-time African champions also faced Tanzania at the 2025 AFCON, securing a 2-1 victory. Against Madagascar, Nigeria recorded a 2-0 win during the 2019 AFCON group stage. Nigeria, which finished third at the last AFCON and was runners-up in 2023, will be looking to continue its strong track record.

This year’s qualification series features 12 groups, with matches scheduled across three windows: September 21-October 6, 2025 (Matchdays 1 & 2), November 9-17, 2025 (Matchdays 3 & 4), and March 22-30, 2026 (Matchdays 5 & 6).

Elsewhere in the draw, Ghana landed in Group C alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, and Somalia. The group promises excitement as four-time winners Ghana face off against three-time champions Ivory Coast, a pairing made possible by Ghana’s second-seed ranking, determined by current FIFA standings. Both Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana are among Africa’s representatives at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cape Verde, who stunned Cameroon to qualify for the World Cup, are in Group K with Mali, Rwanda, and Liberia. South Africa, drawn in Group D, will compete with Guinea, co-hosts Kenya (who qualify automatically), and Eritrea. Only one additional team can qualify from this group due to Kenya’s automatic berth.

Other notable groups include:

• Group A: Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
• Group B: Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
• Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
• Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo Brazzaville
• Group H: Tunisia, Uganda (co-host), Libya, Botswana
• Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
• Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia

The top two teams from each group will qualify, except in groups with a co-host, where only one additional team advances alongside the host nation.

The draw also comes amid ongoing discussions about AFCON hosting and scheduling. CAF president Patrice Motsepe has reassured that the 2027 tournament will proceed in East Africa as planned, despite logistical challenges. Meanwhile, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, and Zimbabwe have submitted a joint bid to host AFCON 2028, which could mark the first edition held across four nations. From 2028, AFCON will shift from a biennial to a four-year cycle to better align with the global football calendar.

Full 2027 AFCON Qualifying Groups

• 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 (co-host), Eritrea
• Group E: DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
• Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
• Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo Brazzaville
• Group H: Tunisia, Uganda (co-host), Libya, Botswana
• Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
• Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
• Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
• Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania (co-host), Guinea-Bissau

Note: In groups with a co-host, only one additional team qualifies.

Matchdays:

• 1 & 2: September 21 – October 6
• 3 & 4: November 9 – 17
• 5 & 6: March 22 – 30, 2027