Super Eagles
Nigeria have been placed in Group L of the qualifying series for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, where they will compete against Madagascar, co-hosts Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau for a spot at the finals.
The draw ceremony took place on Tuesday at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, with former Super Eagles skipper William Troost-Ekong among those assisting with the draw.
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A total of 48 national teams will contest the qualification phase, which has been organised into 12 groups, with 24 sides expected to reach the final tournament.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda between June 19 and July 17, 2027.
Nigeria were seeded in Pot 1 and appeared to have been handed a manageable group on paper.
However, because Tanzania are automatic qualifiers as co-hosts, only the group winner will secure a place at the finals from Group L.
The same rule applies to all groups featuring any of the host nations, while in other groups, both the first and second-placed teams will qualify.
Elsewhere, defending champions Côte d’Ivoire were drawn in Group C alongside Ghana, The Gambia, and Somalia, setting up a tough-looking contest.
Senegal, winners of the 2025 edition, will battle Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia in Group J, while Morocco, hosts of the 2025 tournament, will face Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho.
The qualification matches will be spread across three international windows. The first two rounds are scheduled for the FIFA window running from September 21 to October 6, 2026, followed by Matchdays Three and Four from November 9 to 17, 2026.
The final two fixtures will be played between March 22 and 30, 2027, after which all qualifiers for the tournament will be confirmed.
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