rki.news | Sources Reuters
JOHANNESBURG, Sept. 22: Qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations are set to begin Thursday, with 48 nations competing across 12 groups for places in the finals.
The tournament will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The top two teams from nine groups will qualify, while the groups containing the host nations will send one additional team to the finals.
The qualifying campaign begins as a dispute continues over the previous tournament’s final in Morocco. Senegal defeated Morocco in January but were stripped of the title after leaving the field during a 14-minute protest. Morocco was subsequently awarded the championship.
Senegal has appealed the decision, with the Court of Arbitration for Sport scheduled to hear the case on Oct. 8.
Morocco, Africa’s best-performing team at the recent World Cup, will begin its Group A campaign against Gabon in Rabat.
Other opening fixtures include Ivory Coast against Ghana in Group C and South Africa against Guinea.
Senegal will begin Group J against Mozambique, while Tunisia faces Uganda in Group H as it seeks to extend its record run of successive finals appearances.
Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Begin Amid Title Dispute
