AFCON Qualifiers Could Produce First Finalists for 2027 Tournament

The November 2026 international window could deliver the first confirmed qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Morocco all in contention to secure early places at the tournament.

The qualification race is particularly significant for East Africa, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania preparing to co-host the continental competition from June 19 to July 17, 2027.

DR Congo, Ivory Coast and Morocco Target Early Qualification

The three nations have made strong starts to their qualifying campaigns, winning their opening matches and positioning themselves to become the first teams to book places at the 24-team tournament.

DR Congo face Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast take on The Gambia, while Morocco meet Niger. Victories in these encounters could secure their qualification for the 2027 finals, depending on the outcomes of other matches in their respective groups.

The fixtures form part of Matchdays Three and Four, scheduled between November 9 and 17, as teams enter a crucial phase of the qualifying campaign.

Ghana and Nigeria Face Pressure

While some of Africa's established football powers are closing in on qualification, others face an increasingly difficult journey.

Ghana are under pressure after suffering defeats against Ivory Coast and The Gambia in their opening Group C matches. The disappointing start led to the departure of Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz, with Swedish coach Kim Lars Björkegren taking charge on an interim basis.

The Black Stars face Somalia twice during the November window and will need positive results to revive their qualification hopes.

Nigeria are also facing a difficult campaign following a 3-0 defeat to Guinea-Bissau. The Super Eagles must respond against Tanzania in their two upcoming Group L encounters to avoid further complications in their bid to reach the tournament.

Cape Verde, meanwhile, are also in danger after losing their first two qualifying matches. The team, which recently impressed at the FIFA World Cup, will face Liberia home and away in an attempt to get its campaign back on track.

Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania Prepare for Historic AFCON

The 2027 edition will mark a historic moment for African football as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania become the first three countries to jointly host the Africa Cup of Nations.

The three co-hosts have already secured automatic qualification for the finals but are still participating in the qualifying competition.

Kenya are drawn in Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea. Uganda are in Group H with Tunisia, Libya and Botswana, while Tanzania compete in Group L alongside Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

Because the host nations are already guaranteed places, only the highest-placed team among the remaining three countries in each of these groups will earn an additional qualification spot.

For Kenya, the November fixtures against South Africa will provide an important opportunity to assess the team's progress against strong continental opposition ahead of the home tournament.

How the Qualification Process Works

A total of 48 national teams are competing across 12 groups of four in the main qualifying stage.

In most groups, the top two teams will qualify for the finals. However, Groups D, H and L have special arrangements because they contain the three automatically qualified co-hosts.

The November window covers Matchdays Three and Four, while the final two rounds are scheduled for March 22–30, 2027.

The competition will feature 24 teams when it begins on June 19, with the final scheduled for July 17, 2027.

East Africa Counts Down to AFCON 2027

With the first qualification places potentially being decided this month, attention is gradually shifting towards the preparations for AFCON 2027.

For Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, hosting the tournament presents an opportunity to showcase East Africa's football infrastructure, tourism industry and ability to stage major international sporting events.

As the qualifying campaign progresses, national teams will be fighting for the remaining places, while the three host countries prepare to welcome Africa's leading football nations.

The November matches could therefore mark the beginning of the final stretch towards one of the most significant sporting events in East African history.