The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the timetable for the qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), setting the stage for a highly anticipated qualification race across the continent.
According to CAF, the qualifying campaign will take place later in 2026, beginning with a preliminary round scheduled for March.
This initial phase will involve selected teams, while countries exempted from the preliminary stage — including the Leopards — will advance directly to the group phase of the qualifiers.
CAF further announced that the group-stage matches of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers will be played across three international windows in the latter part of 2026.
Matchdays 1 and 2 are scheduled for September 21 to 30, 2026, followed by Matchdays 3 and 4 from October 1 to 6, 2026.
The final round of group fixtures, Matchdays 5 and 6, will be contested between November 9 and 17, 2026.
The qualifiers will determine the teams that will secure a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which CAF has confirmed will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The tournament will make history as the first AFCON to be staged across three countries in East Africa, underscoring CAF’s commitment to expanding the tournament’s reach and promoting football development across the region.
The 2027 AFCON is scheduled to kick off in June 2027, with expectations already building for a vibrant and competitive championship.
CAF also noted that additional information, including details of the official draw and the complete fixture list for the qualifiers, will be announced in due course.
As preparations gather momentum, national teams across Africa will begin strategizing ahead of the crucial qualifying fixtures that will shape the road to East Africa 2027.