Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn in Group L alongside co-host Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea Bissau in the qualification race for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The draw, held at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters in Cairo, placed 48 countries into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top sides advancing to the tournament scheduled for June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The Super Eagles head into the qualifiers with previous experience against all three opponents. Nigeria recorded home-and-away victories over Madagascar during the 2012 AFCON qualifiers and will look to maintain that dominance.
Guinea Bissau, however, presents a tougher recent history after both sides shared victories during the qualifiers for the 2023 AFCON tournament in Côte d’Ivoire. Guinea Bissau stunned Nigeria in Abuja before the Super Eagles responded with a win away from home.
Tanzania, one of the tournament’s co-hosts, also shares history with Nigeria from the 2017 AFCON qualifiers when the Taifa Stars secured a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam before losing 1-0 in Uyo.
However, Tanzania’s status as co-host adds an extra challenge to the group. Since the East African nation has already qualified automatically for the tournament, only the highest-ranked non-host country in the group will secure automatic qualification, increasing pressure on Nigeria to avoid costly slip-ups.
Qualification matches will be played across three windows, with teams playing six games in total before the final tournament.
Elsewhere, Egypt were drawn with Angola, Malawi and South Sudan in Group B, while Cameroon face Comoros, Namibia and Congo. Defending champions Morocco will take on Gabon, Niger and Lesotho in Group A.
