CAF Announces Draw for 2027 U-23 AFCON Qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the draw for the 2027 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers at its headquarters on a Tuesday. The first round will consist of 14 two-legged ties, with the first legs scheduled for September 28, 2026, and the return legs on October 6, 2026.

Winners from these ties will advance to the second round, where they will face higher-ranked or seeded teams. The second-round matches are set for November 9, 2026, for the first legs and November 17, 2026, for the second legs.

A total of 42 nations are competing for the seven remaining places at the 2027 finals, which will be hosted in Egypt. Egypt has already qualified automatically as the host nation.

This tournament will also serve as Africa’s pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.