Algeria are two-time Africa Cup of Nations champions — 1990 and 2019 — and arrive at AFCON 2027 carrying both the weight of expectation and the burning motivation of a team that has twice gone out in the group stage since their 2019 triumph. Les Fennecs are drawn in Group I for the qualifiers alongside Zambia, Togo and Burundi. Qualifying begins September 2026. The tournament itself runs 19 June to 17 July 2027 in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda. This is the complete guide.
Algeria AFCON 2027 Qualifying — Group I
Algeria were drawn in Group I of the AFCON 2027 qualifiers alongside Zambia, Togo and Burundi. The draw was conducted in Cairo on 19 May 2026. The top two teams from Group I qualify for AFCON 2027. Algeria are overwhelming favourites — but Zambia are competitive and have beaten Algeria in qualifying before.
| Group I | FIFA ranking |
|---|---|
| 🇩🇿 Algeria | Top 40 |
| 🇿🇲 Zambia | Mid-tier |
| 🇹🇬 Togo | Lower ranked |
| 🇧🇮 Burundi | Lower ranked |
Qualifying Fixtures — Full Schedule
Algeria’s full Group I fixture list as confirmed by CAF:
| Matchday | Window | Fixture |
|---|---|---|
| MD1 | 21 Sep – 6 Oct 2026 | Algeria 🇩🇿 vs Zambia 🇿🇲 |
| MD2 | 21 Sep – 6 Oct 2026 | Burundi 🇧🇮 vs Algeria 🇩🇿 |
| MD3 | 9 – 17 Nov 2026 | Algeria 🇩🇿 vs Togo 🇹🇬 |
| MD4 | 9 – 17 Nov 2026 | Togo 🇹🇬 vs Algeria 🇩🇿 |
| MD5 | 22 – 30 Mar 2027 | Zambia 🇿🇲 vs Algeria 🇩🇿 |
| MD6 | 22 – 30 Mar 2027 | Algeria 🇩🇿 vs Burundi 🇧🇮 |
Exact match dates and kick-off times within each window will be confirmed by CAF closer to the start of the campaign. The qualifying campaign concludes in March 2027 — Algeria’s place at AFCON 2027 will be confirmed by then.
Algeria’s AFCON History — Champions Twice
Algeria are one of Africa’s most decorated national teams with a proud and complex AFCON history:
| Year | Host | Algeria’s result | Notable moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Algeria 🇩🇿 | 🏆 Champions | 1st title — final vs Nigeria |
| 2019 | Egypt 🇪🇬 | 🏆 Champions | Mahrez free-kick vs Nigeria in SF · Bounedjah goal in final vs Senegal |
| 2021 | Cameroon 🇨🇲 | Group stage exit | Lost 0-1 to Equatorial Guinea · ended 35-game unbeaten run |
| 2023 | Côte d’Ivoire 🇨🇮 | Group stage exit | Lost 0-1 to Mauritania — a shocking elimination |
| 2025 | Morocco 🇲🇦 | Quarter-final exit | Lost to Nigeria — AFCON redemption campaign begins |
The pattern is stark. Algeria in 2019 were one of the tournament’s great teams — unbeaten, disciplined, tactically perfect. In 2021 and 2023 they failed to get out of the group. In 2025 they improved to the quarter-finals before losing to Nigeria. The trajectory is upward. By 2027, with the lessons of those exits absorbed, Les Fennecs are expected to go deep.
The 2019 Magic — Why It Still Matters
Algeria’s 2019 AFCON triumph in Egypt was one of the great tournament victories in African football history. They conceded only one goal in seven matches. In the semi-final against Nigeria, Riyad Mahrez scored a stunning last-minute free-kick to send Algeria through 2-1. In the final against Senegal, Baghdad Bounedjah scored inside the first 90 seconds — the fastest goal in an AFCON final — and Algeria held on 1-0. A nation of 44 million people erupted. Over 10,000 Algerian fans were in Cairo that night. For context: that was Algeria’s first title in 29 years.
AFCON 2027 is Algeria’s chance to win a third. They have not won it since 2019. For a team and a fanbase with that history, reaching Tanzania without a title will feel like failure regardless of how far they go.
Key Players for AFCON 2027
| Player | Position | Why they matter |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Amoura | Forward | Wolfsburg — top scorer in World Cup qualifying with 10 goals. The most dangerous Algerian attacker heading into 2027. Electrifying pace, plays across the front three. |
| Amine Gouiri | Forward | Marseille — bags of talent, scored 5 goals in 8 Marseille matches in 2026. A player with a point to prove after missing AFCON 2025 through injury. |
| Rayan Ait-Nouri | Left back | Manchester City — attack-minded, one of Africa’s best full-backs. Followed in Mahrez’s footsteps by signing for City. |
| Ramy Bensebaini | Defender | Borussia Dortmund — commanding at the back, a household name in European football. |
| Ismail Bennacer | Midfielder | AC Milan — the engine of Algeria’s midfield, one of the best defensive midfielders in Africa. |
| Fares Chaibi | Midfielder | Eintracht Frankfurt — anchors the midfield, increasingly important in Petkovic’s setup. |
| Aissa Mandi | Defender | Captain — Algeria’s most capped player, over 100 appearances. Tournament experience is unmatched in the squad. |
| Riyad Mahrez | Winger | Al Ahli — 36 in 2027, almost certainly his last AFCON. The 2019 hero still capable of the decisive moment. |
| Adil Boulbina | Forward | Algeria’s top scorer at the 2025 Arab Cup — scored a wonder strike in extra-time. A future star, still only 22 in 2026. |
Algeria’s AFCON 2027 Tournament Draw
If Algeria qualify from Group I — which they are expected to do — they will play in the AFCON 2027 finals from 19 June to 17 July 2027. The finals group draw has not yet been made. Algeria’s opponents, group and match venues across Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda will be confirmed in early 2027.
What is confirmed: the finals will be played in six stadiums across three countries — Benjamin Mkapa Stadium (60,000) and Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium (30,000) in Tanzania, Fumba City Stadium (36,500) and Amaan Stadium (15,000) in Zanzibar, Talanta Stadium (60,000) and Moi International Sports Centre (48,000) in Kenya, and Mandela National Stadium (45,000) in Uganda. See our complete stadiums guide.
For Algerian Fans Travelling to Tanzania
Algeria’s fan base is one of the largest and most passionate in African football. The scenes in Algiers after the 2019 triumph were among the most extraordinary in African sporting history. Algerian fans who travel to Tanzania for AFCON 2027 will find a country that is extraordinarily excited to host the continent — and a warm welcome awaits.
Getting from Algeria to Tanzania
| Route | Connection | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Algiers (ALG) → Addis Ababa → Dar es Salaam | Ethiopian Airlines | ~10–12 hours total |
| Algiers (ALG) → Nairobi → Dar es Salaam | Kenya Airways | ~10–12 hours total |
| Algiers (ALG) → Doha/Dubai → Dar es Salaam | Qatar Airways / Emirates | ~12–14 hours total |
No direct flight operates between Algeria and Tanzania. Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa is generally the most direct and reliable option for North African travellers.
Visa Requirements
- Tanzania eVisa — required for Algerian passport holders. Apply at visa.immigration.go.tz — cost $50 USD, processing up to 10 working days. Apply at least 2 months before travel.
- Yellow fever certificate — Algeria is not a yellow fever endemic country so the mandatory yellow card requirement does not apply when entering from Algeria. Confirm this with your airline before travel as policies may be updated.
See our complete Tanzania eVisa guide for the step-by-step process.
Practical Tips for Algerian Fans
- Currency — Tanzania uses the Tanzanian Shilling (TZS). USD is accepted at hotels and larger restaurants. Withdraw TZS at Julius Nyerere International Airport on arrival. See our money guide.
- Language — Swahili is the national language. English is widely spoken in tourist areas. Arabic script will not be widely recognised — French is more useful as a backup language in tourism contexts.
- Climate — Dar es Salaam in June and July is hot and humid (28–32°C). Arusha is significantly cooler at altitude. Pack accordingly.
- Transport in Dar es Salaam — use Bolt or Uber exclusively. Download the app before arriving. Never walk at night in unfamiliar areas. See our safety guide.
- SIM card — buy a Vodacom Tanzania SIM at the airport on arrival. Your Algerian SIM will work on roaming but at significantly higher cost. See our SIM card guide.
Why AFCON 2027 Is Different for Algeria
Algeria won their second title in 2019 in Egypt — on the same continent, a relatively short journey from home. AFCON 2027 in East Africa is a different proposition entirely. Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda represent a new frontier for the Algerian travelling fanbase — longer flights, different culture, different climate, the first AFCON in sub-Saharan East Africa in 51 years.
But the draw of the tournament is enormous. AFCON 2027 is the last biennial AFCON — CAF announced in December 2025 that the tournament will become quadrennial from 2028. That means AFCON 2027 in Tanzania is the last chance for the likes of Mahrez, Bennacer and Mandi to win the continental title in the format they have known their entire careers. For the older generation of Algerian players, this tournament carries finality as well as ambition.
A third AFCON title — in East Africa, 51 years after the last one was held in this region, as the last ever biennial edition — would be one of the great achievements in Algerian football history.
For the complete AFCON 2027 qualifying schedule across all groups see our qualifying schedule guide. For the full tournament fixture list see our fixtures page. For all AFCON 2027 stadiums see our stadiums guide. For tickets see our tickets guide.
Group draw confirmed by CAF on 19 May 2026 in Cairo. Qualifying fixture schedule sourced from Flashscore.com CAF confirmation. Algeria squad information sourced from Goal.com, CAF official and Grokipedia. All qualifying results subject to change. Page will be updated as qualifying progresses.