AFCON 2027 in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda arrives with more unfinished business, more burning motivation and more genuine quality than any tournament in recent memory. Morocco are the defending champions — but the manner of that title has left half the continent furious and desperate to take it from them. Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria and Egypt each arrive with their own reasons why 2027 is the year. This is the complete guide to the AFCON 2027 favorites and who has the best chance of lifting the trophy on 17 July 2027.
The Defending Champions — Morocco 🇲🇦
Morocco are the official defending AFCON champions. The reality of how that happened makes them perhaps the most motivated defending champions in the tournament’s history — motivated to prove the title was deserved, while every opponent is equally motivated to take it from them.
In the AFCON 2025 final in Rabat, Senegal won the match 1-0 in extra time through a Pape Gueye strike. Two months later, CAF’s appeals board stripped Senegal of the title and awarded it to Morocco after ruling that Senegal had forfeited the final by walking off the pitch in protest over a controversial penalty decision. Senegal has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The legal case is ongoing. Morocco celebrate a title that half of Africa does not accept as legitimate.
On the pitch, Morocco are genuinely formidable. Led by African Player of the Year Achraf Hakimi, the Atlas Lions overcame every challenge in AFCON 2025 and won a penalty shootout over Nigeria in the semi-final. Brahim Diaz was the tournament’s top scorer. The Atlas Lions have the deepest squad, the best coaching structure and the most organised defensive unit in African football.
For AFCON 2027 in East Africa — a neutral venue far from home — Morocco cannot rely on the home advantage that shaped their 2025 run. That is the critical variable. Morocco in North Africa are nearly unbeatable. Morocco in sub-Saharan East Africa, against a full-strength field at peak European summer availability, is a different proposition.
The case for Morocco: Best squad depth on the continent. Hakimi, Diaz, En-Nesyri, Aguerd — a team built around world-class European club players at their peak. Motivated to validate a title still under legal challenge.
The case against: No home advantage. The psychological weight of a disputed title. The burning hunger of every team they face.
Verdict: Genuine favorites, but not as dominant as AFCON 2025 suggested. Their East Africa coefficient is unknown.
The Hungry — Nigeria 🇳🇬
Nigeria lost the AFCON 2025 semi-final to Morocco on penalties after a goalless draw — Morocco converted all four of their penalties while Nigeria missed two in a 4-2 shootout defeat. Nigeria then beat Egypt in the third-place playoff. Super Eagles won bronze. It was not enough.
With Victor Osimhen leading the attack, Nigeria arrive at AFCON 2027 as arguably the most dangerous offensive team in the tournament. Osimhen at peak age in a European summer tournament — fully rested, no mid-season fatigue — is a different prospect from the January AFCON version of years past. Ademola Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in the 2023 AFCON final, gives Nigeria genuine match-winning alternatives.
Nigeria have reached 17 AFCON semi-finals — tied with Egypt for the joint-most — and no nation has more top-three finishes in the tournament’s history. Three AFCON titles. The Super Eagles know how to win this tournament. The question is whether the squad around Osimhen is complete enough to go all the way.
The case for Nigeria: Osimhen is the most dangerous striker in Africa. Lookman, Iheanacho depth. AFCON pedigree unmatched. Motivated by semi-final penalty defeat in 2025.
The case against: Defensive vulnerabilities have cost them in decisive moments. Penalty shootout trauma may linger.
Verdict: The most likely team to win the tournament after Morocco. Osimhen in full flight in a summer tournament is terrifying.
The Aggrieved — Senegal 🇸🇳
Senegal believe — with significant justification — that they are the AFCON 2025 champions. Pape Gueye scored in extra time. The players celebrated. The fans celebrated. Two months later a boardroom decision took it away. The fury in Dakar has not faded.
Sadio Mane will be 35 at AFCON 2027 — almost certainly his last major tournament. He won AFCON 2021. He was the decisive goal-scorer in the 2025 semi-final against Egypt. He called his teammates back onto the pitch in the chaotic final. Mane’s legacy is intertwined with AFCON in a way few players can claim. The chance to reclaim a title that Senegal believe was stolen from them — in a clean on-pitch tournament victory — will drive this squad throughout the qualifying campaign and into every match in Tanzania.
The case for Senegal: Deep squad across all positions. Mane as talismanic leader. Burning motivation from the 2025 ruling. Two finals in the last four editions — they know how to get there.
The case against: Mane at 35. The emotional weight of 2025 may help or hinder. Morocco in their way again is likely.
Verdict: Do not underestimate a team playing with this level of motivated fury. The Lions of Teranga will be dangerous from the first match to the last.
The Redeemers — Algeria 🇩🇿
Algeria won AFCON in 2019 in Egypt — one of the great tournament victories of the modern era. They have not been close since. They were eliminated in the group stage in 2021 and 2023 before recovering to reach the quarter-finals in 2025, where Nigeria beat them. The redemption arc is incomplete.
By 2027 Algeria’s golden generation will be at a critical age crossroads. Riyad Mahrez will be 36 — almost certainly his final AFCON. Ismail Bennacer will be 29 — prime age. Mohamed Amoura scored 10 goals in World Cup qualifying and is arguably the most dangerous forward in Africa outside of Osimhen. Algeria have the talent. The question is whether Petkovic can build the collective discipline that characterised their 2019 triumph.
The case for Algeria: Amoura is the dark horse striker of the tournament. Mahrez’s final chance at a second title. Bennacer anchoring a strong midfield. Group I is winnable — they should arrive at the finals with momentum.
The case against: Three group stage exits in four tournaments before 2025 recovery. The gap between 2019 Algeria and current Algeria is real. Mahrez at 36.
Verdict: Strong enough to reach the semi-finals. Whether they can go further depends on Mahrez having one last great tournament.
The Eternal Contenders — Egypt 🇪🇬
Seven AFCON titles — the most of any nation. Mohamed Salah at 35, hungry for the one trophy his extraordinary career still lacks. Egypt lost the 2025 semi-final 1-0 to Senegal, with Salah unable to find the breakthrough against a disciplined defence.
AFCON 2027 is almost certainly Salah’s last realistic chance at continental glory. He will not be playing in AFCON 2032 at 39. The motivation is personal, not just national. Egypt’s record in East Africa is less consistent than in North Africa — but a summer tournament with Salah at full fitness is a different proposition from the January editions of recent years.
The case for Egypt: Salah motivated like never before. Seven titles — tournament pedigree is unmatched. Strong defensive structure under Hossam Hassan.
The case against: Lost to Senegal, struggling to recreate the dominant Egypt of the Salah peak years. East Africa is not their traditional comfort zone.
Verdict: Semi-final contenders. A Salah-inspired run to the final is possible — but winning it requires the defence to hold under enormous pressure.
The Dark Horses
Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 — AFCON 2023 champions on home soil. Lost to Nigeria in the 2025 quarter-finals. Sébastien Haller, who scored the 2023 final winner months after cancer treatment, returns for what may be his last major tournament. Côte d’Ivoire have the squad to go deep — they always do. East Africa is neutral ground that suits their style.
DR Congo 🇨🇩 — The Leopards reached the 2023 AFCON semi-finals and are building a genuinely dangerous squad around players established in Europe’s top leagues. Underestimated in most predictions. A team that could genuinely surprise the field in Tanzania.
Mali 🇲🇱 — Consistent semi-finalists who have never converted their talent into a title run. The golden generation — Amadou Haidara, Yves Bissouma, Mohamed Camara — will be at peak age in 2027. If they ever win it, 2027 is the year.
Cape Verde 🇨🇻 — The ultimate AFCON overachievers. A small island nation that consistently outperforms its FIFA ranking. They have caused major upsets at recent AFCONs and will do so again. Not a title contender — but could end the run of any of the favorites.
The Verdict — AFCON 2027 Winner Prediction
| Team | Our rating | Key player | What they need |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇦 Morocco | ★★★★★ | Achraf Hakimi | Prove the title was deserved on the pitch |
| 🇳🇬 Nigeria | ★★★★½ | Victor Osimhen | Defensive discipline to match attacking quality |
| 🇸🇳 Senegal | ★★★★ | Sadio Mane | Channel the fury of 2025 into a clean title |
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | ★★★½ | Mohamed Amoura | Mahrez to find one last great tournament |
| 🇪🇬 Egypt | ★★★½ | Mohamed Salah | Salah to carry them past the semi-finals |
| 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | ★★★ | Sébastien Haller | Replicate 2023 form on neutral ground |
| 🇲🇱 Mali | ★★½ | Yves Bissouma | Convert talent into tournament consistency |
Our prediction: Nigeria win AFCON 2027. Victor Osimhen in a European summer tournament, fully rested and with the full complement of Europe-based Super Eagles, is a different team from the January versions that have come close and fallen short. The neutral ground of East Africa removes Morocco’s home advantage and gives a well-organised Nigeria the platform to go all the way. But this is AFCON — and AFCON always has another story to tell.
For the full qualifying group analysis see our all 24 teams guide. For the complete schedule see our fixtures guide. For the final see our final guide. For tickets see our tickets guide.
AFCON 2025 results sourced from CAF official, NBC Sports, Al Jazeera and Euronews. CAF appeals ruling sourced from Euronews, March 2026.