Nigeria’s Super Eagles will discover their path to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducts the qualifiers draw.
The draw, which has been highly anticipated by Nigerian fans, will determine the groups for the road to AFCON 2027, co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
According to CAF, a total of 48 countries, including the three co-host nations, will participate in the qualifiers. The teams will be divided into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two sides from every group qualifying for the final tournament in East Africa.
The qualifiers draw is scheduled for May 19, giving the Super Eagles and other participating nations less than three weeks to prepare for the group stage fixtures.
The opening match of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is set for Saturday, June 19, 2027, while the final will take place exactly four weeks later on Saturday, July 17, 2027. CAF is yet to decide the specific venues for both the tournament opener and the grand finale.
Nigeria heads into the qualifiers with renewed confidence after finishing third at the recent AFCON 2025 tournament hosted by Morocco. The Super Eagles will be among the top-seeded teams in the draw, and fans will be hoping for a favourable group that allows them to secure qualification comfortably.
The qualifiers are expected to begin later in 2026, with the first set of matches likely scheduled for September.
Interestingly, the three co-host nations, Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will still take part in the qualifiers even though they have already secured their spots for the finals. Their participation will help balance the groups and add competitive value to the qualification process.
This format mirrors previous AFCON qualifiers where host nations sometimes compete in the early stages.
The May 19 draw represents the official beginning of their journey towards reclaiming continental glory. Nigeria remains one of Africa’s traditional powerhouses and will be determined to avoid any slip-ups during the group stage.
Supporters will be keenly watching the draw to see which familiar rivals or tricky underdogs the team might face. Potential opponents could range from West African neighbours to teams from other zones looking to cause upsets.
As the countdown to May 19 begins, the focus now shifts to the technical crew and the players, who will be expected to hit the ground running once the groups are confirmed.
The Super Eagles remain one of the biggest attractions in African football, and a successful qualification campaign would set the tone for a strong performance at AFCON 2027 in East Africa.
