The journey to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is officially underway as CAF has confirmed a revamped qualification format for 2027 AFCON in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The race to secure a ticket to East Africa is now wide open as a total of 16 teams will qualify for Africa biggest football event.
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In a major shift, CAF has removed the preliminary qualification rounds entirely, allowing all countries to enter directly into the main qualifying phase.
This change is expected to create a more inclusive and competitive pathway to the tournament.
Under the new structure, 13 groups will be formed, each containing either three or four teams.
From these groups, the hosts automatically qualify, while the 13 group winners and the three best runners-up will also book their places in the finals.
Teams that finish as runners-up but don’t rank among the top three will still have one final chance to qualify through a playoff round scheduled for November 2026.
This decisive phase will determine the remaining slots for the tournament.
CAF has also outlined key dates in the qualification calendar: the official draw takes place on December 19, 2025, in Rabat, Morocco, while the group-stage qualifiers will be played across March, September and October 2026.
With the new format now confirmed, anticipation is building across the continent.
The road to AFCON 2027 is set to deliver high drama, fierce competition and unforgettable football moments as Africa marches toward its next big showpiece in East Africa.
