AFCON 2027 in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda is the most open Africa Cup of Nations in recent memory. The defending champions Morocco arrive under a cloud of controversy. Nigeria have their best striker in years and a point to prove. Senegal believe the 2025 title was taken from them in a boardroom. Algeria are desperate to reclaim their 2019 form. Egypt have Mohamed Salah for what is almost certainly his last shot. This guide breaks down every group, the realistic knockout contenders, the dark horses and our final prediction for who lifts the trophy on 17 July 2027.
Want to make your own prediction? Use our interactive AFCON 2027 Predictor tool — pick your winners from every group through to the final and share your bracket.
The Big Picture — What Makes AFCON 2027 Different
Three factors make AFCON 2027 genuinely harder to predict than any recent edition:
Summer calendar = full squads. AFCON 2027 runs 19 June to 17 July — European club seasons are finished. For the first time in years, every African nation arrives with their full complement of Europe-based stars fully rested. The January editions of 2021 and 2023 were distorted by exhausted players and reluctant clubs. AFCON 2027 will have the deepest available talent pool in tournament history — which means the gap between the traditional powers and the rest is smaller than ever.
Neutral East African ground. Morocco’s 2025 victory was shaped significantly by home advantage. No nation has that advantage in Tanzania. Every team plays on genuinely neutral turf.
The last biennial AFCON. For older players like Mahrez, Salah and Mane, this is almost certainly their last AFCON. Teams built around aging stars will be driven by urgency that cannot be replicated. Expect careers to define themselves or end here.
Group by Group Predictions
Group A — Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
Morocco are the defending champions and should top this group without difficulty. Gabon are the realistic second-place team. Niger and Lesotho are unlikely to trouble the top two. The only question is whether Morocco approach qualifying with full focus or rotate squad players.
Predicted qualifiers: Morocco 🇲🇦, Gabon 🇬🇦
Group B — Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
Egypt are strong favourites. The away trips to Southern Africa are not straightforward — Angola in particular have reached recent AFCONs and will push for second. South Sudan are the group’s weakest side. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Omar Marmoush and a strong supporting cast give them genuine tournament-winning credentials.
Predicted qualifiers: Egypt 🇪🇬, Angola 🇦🇴
Group C — Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Gambia, Somalia
The most evenly contested group between the top two. Ivory Coast are the 2023 AFCON champions. Ghana have been inconsistent but remain dangerous. Somalia are tournament debutants who will struggle to take points from either West African giant. The Ivory Coast vs Ghana qualifying clashes will be among the most watched fixtures of the entire campaign.
Predicted qualifiers: Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮, Ghana 🇬🇭 — though Ivory Coast vs Ghana is genuinely unpredictable.
Group D — South Africa, Guinea, Kenya 🏠, Eritrea
Kenya are already through as co-hosts. South Africa are clear favourites for the one contested spot — Bafana Bafana are a well-organised, difficult side. Guinea are competitive and cannot be dismissed. Eritrea are first-time qualifiers.
Predicted qualifiers: Kenya 🇰🇪 ✅, South Africa 🇿🇦
Group E — DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
DR Congo reached the AFCON 2023 semi-finals and should qualify without difficulty. Equatorial Guinea are the most dangerous dark horse in the qualifying draw — they beat Algeria at AFCON 2021. Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe will compete for any available points.
Predicted qualifiers: DR Congo 🇨🇩, Equatorial Guinea 🇬🇶
Group F — Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
Burkina Faso are recent AFCON semi-finalists and clear group favourites. Mauritania are a rapidly improving side who have reached recent AFCONs — they are the most underrated team in this qualifying draw. Benin are experienced qualifiers who will push for second.
Predicted qualifiers: Burkina Faso 🇧🇫, Mauritania 🇲🇷
Group G — Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo
Cameroon are five-time AFCON champions and should top the group — but the Indomitable Lions have been inconsistent in recent editions. Comoros are the qualifying draw’s most famous dark horse: they reached the Round of 16 at their AFCON 2021 debut with 10 men against Cameroon and caused one of the tournament’s great upsets. They can do it again.
Predicted qualifiers: Cameroon 🇨🇲, Comoros 🇰🇲
Group H — Tunisia, Uganda 🏠, Libya, Botswana
Uganda are already through as co-hosts. Tunisia are clear favourites for the one contested spot — the Carthage Eagles are one of North Africa’s most consistent qualifiers. Libya are improving and will push for second. Botswana are unlikely to trouble the top two.
Predicted qualifiers: Uganda 🇺🇬 ✅, Tunisia 🇹🇳
Group I — Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
Algeria should qualify but nothing is guaranteed after their group stage exits in 2021 and 2023. Zambia have taken points from major nations in qualifying before and are the most credible threat. A slip from Algeria would be one of the qualifying campaign’s biggest stories.
Predicted qualifiers: Algeria 🇩🇿, Zambia 🇿🇲
Group J — Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
Senegal are the group’s dominant force and should qualify with ease. Mozambique have reached recent AFCONs and will compete for second. Sudan and Ethiopia are unlikely to challenge the top two. Senegal’s qualifying motivation — proving they are the real 2025 champions after the contested final ruling — will be evident from the first match.
Predicted qualifiers: Senegal 🇸🇳, Mozambique 🇲🇿
Group K — Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
Mali are consistent semi-finalists with a golden generation at peak age in 2027. Cape Verde are the qualifying draw’s greatest overachievers — a small island nation that consistently outperforms their FIFA ranking and has caused genuine upsets at recent AFCONs. Rwanda are improving rapidly. Liberia are unlikely to trouble the top two.
Predicted qualifiers: Mali 🇲🇱, Cape Verde 🇨🇻
Group L — Nigeria, Tanzania 🏠, Guinea-Bissau, Madagascar
Tanzania are already through as lead co-hosts. Nigeria are clear favourites for the one contested spot — but this group is a trap. Madagascar beat Nigeria 2-0 at AFCON 2019. Guinea-Bissau have taken points from Nigeria in qualifying before. With Tanzania already through, every team in this group is playing every match as a cup final. Nigeria cannot afford a single slip.
Predicted qualifiers: Tanzania 🇹🇿 ✅, Nigeria 🇳🇬
Predicted AFCON 2027 Final 24 Teams
| Group | Team 1 | Team 2 |
|---|---|---|
| A | 🇲🇦 Morocco | 🇬🇦 Gabon |
| B | 🇪🇬 Egypt | 🇦🇴 Angola |
| C | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 🇬🇭 Ghana |
| D | 🇰🇪 Kenya ✅ | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
| E | 🇨🇩 DR Congo | 🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea |
| F | 🇧🇫 Burkina Faso | 🇲🇷 Mauritania |
| G | 🇨🇲 Cameroon | 🇰🇲 Comoros |
| H | 🇺🇬 Uganda ✅ | 🇹🇳 Tunisia |
| I | 🇩🇿 Algeria | 🇿🇲 Zambia |
| J | 🇸🇳 Senegal | 🇲🇿 Mozambique |
| K | 🇲🇱 Mali | 🇨🇻 Cape Verde |
| L | 🇹🇿 Tanzania ✅ | 🇳🇬 Nigeria |
✅ = already qualified as co-host. All other qualifications are predictions only — qualifying runs September 2026 to March 2027. See our complete all 24 teams guide.
Tournament Favorites — Our Power Rankings
| Rank | Team | Why they can win it | Why they might not |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 🇲🇦 Morocco | Defending champions. Deepest squad. Hakimi, Diaz, En-Nesyri at peak. Best coaching structure on the continent. | No home advantage. Disputed 2025 title creates pressure. Every opponent motivated to beat them. |
| 2 | 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Osimhen in summer tournament = best version of Nigeria ever available. Lookman, Iheanacho depth. AFCON pedigree unmatched. | Defensive vulnerabilities in big matches. Penalty shootout trauma from 2025 semi-final. |
| 3 | 🇸🇳 Senegal | Burning motivation from disputed 2025 final ruling. Deep squad across all positions. Mane as talismanic leader. | Mane at 35. Emotional weight of 2025 could help or hinder. |
| 4 | 🇩🇿 Algeria | Amoura is the tournament’s most dangerous striker outside Osimhen. Bennacer, Ait-Nouri, Bensebaini form a world-class spine. | Three disappointing AFCONs since 2019. Mahrez at 36. Pressure to perform after years of underachievement. |
| 5 | 🇪🇬 Egypt | Salah’s final chance. Seven AFCON titles. Tournament pedigree unmatched. Marmoush adds genuine second-striker quality. | Salah cannot carry Egypt alone at 35. They have not won since 2010. |
| 6 | 🇨🇮 Côte d’Ivoire | 2023 AFCON champions. Haller’s comeback story continues. Strong across all positions. | Lost to Nigeria in 2025 quarter-finals. Cannot rely on home advantage again. |
Dark Horses — The Teams That Could Surprise Everyone
🇨🇩 DR Congo
Reached the AFCON 2023 semi-finals and are building a genuinely dangerous squad around players established in Europe’s top leagues. Consistently underestimated in pre-tournament predictions. A squad that could genuinely reach the final.
🇲🇱 Mali
Consistent semi-finalists who have never converted their talent into a title run. By 2027 Amadou Haidara, Yves Bissouma and Mohamed Camara will be at peak age. If Mali ever win this tournament, 2027 is the year.
🇨🇻 Cape Verde
The AFCON’s greatest overachievers. A small island nation with a remarkably professional squad developed through the Portuguese football system. They have caused upsets at every recent AFCON. They will cause one in Tanzania too — the only question is who the victim is.
🇰🇲 Comoros
Reached the Round of 16 at their 2021 AFCON debut — with 10 men for most of a knockout game against Cameroon. Their AFCON debut is the greatest underdog story of the modern tournament era. They will not be overawed by anyone in 2027.
🇸🇦 South Africa
Bafana Bafana are a well-organised, hard-to-beat side who consistently punch above their FIFA ranking in competitive matches. They reached the AFCON 2019 quarter-finals as a dark horse. They could do the same in 2027.
Group Stage Fixtures to Watch
The official group stage draw has not yet been made — the final tournament groups will be drawn in early 2027 once qualifying concludes in March. But based on our predicted 24 teams, these are the group stage clashes most worth anticipating:
- Morocco vs Nigeria — if they land in the same group, this is the group stage match of the tournament. The 2025 semi-final rematch.
- Egypt vs Senegal — these two met in the 2021 AFCON final (Senegal won on penalties) and 2025 semi-final (Senegal won 1-0). A rivalry for the ages.
- Ivory Coast vs Ghana — West Africa’s great derby, already confirmed for the qualifying campaign. If they meet again in the tournament group stage the atmosphere will be electric.
- Algeria vs Morocco — the North African derby with political undertones that run deeper than football. If the draw puts them together the match stops cities from Algiers to Casablanca.
Our Final Prediction
Winner: Nigeria 🇳🇬
Runners-up: Morocco 🇲🇦
Third place: Senegal 🇸🇳
Victor Osimhen in a European summer tournament — fully rested, no club pressure, playing for the country — is the best version of Nigeria ever assembled for an AFCON. The neutral ground of East Africa removes Morocco’s home advantage and gives a well-organised Nigeria the platform to go all the way. Morocco are the technical favourites but the pressure of a disputed title and the hunger of every team they face makes them vulnerable in ways they were not in Rabat.
Senegal will reach the semi-finals driven by the fury of 2025. Algeria will reach the quarter-finals but fall short again without the 2019 collective spirit. Egypt will go deep on Salah’s urgency but be eliminated in the semi-finals or quarter-finals when the defence is exposed.
The final: Nigeria vs Morocco, Dar es Salaam or Nairobi, 17 July 2027. Nigeria win it.
Make Your Own Prediction
Disagree with our picks? Use our interactive AFCON 2027 Predictor tool to pick your own winners from every group through to the final — then share your bracket on X/Twitter. See who among your followers gets it right.
For the complete tournament guide see our dates and schedule guide. For all 24 expected teams see our teams guide. For the favorites analysis in depth see our favorites guide. For who we think wins see our original predictions article.
Predictions represent editorial opinion only. Qualifying groups confirmed by CAF draw on 19 May 2026. Final tournament groups to be drawn in early 2027. All team inclusions based on predicted qualifying results — subject to change. This page will be updated as qualifying progresses.