Representative image: The seeding for the AFCON 2027 qualifier was based on current world rankings. | Photo Credit: AFP

Ghana was drawn in the same group as Ivory Coast when the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw was made in Cairo on Tueday.

Gambia and Somalia complete Group C, and the winner and runner-up after six matchdays between September and March qualify for the tournament.

The clash of four-time winner Ghana and three-time champion Ivory Coast resulted from Ghana being among the second seeds. Seeding was based on the current world rankings.

Ivory Coast, Ghana and Cape Verde are among 10 African qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup, which kicks off next month in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Cape Verde, whose World Cup qualification at the expense of Cameroon was the biggest shock among the nine African groups, is in Group K of the AFCON with Mali, Rwanda and Liberia.

South Africa is in Group D with Guinea, co-host Kenya and Eritrea. With the Kenyans qualifying automatically, the other three teams will fight for one ticket to East Africa.

Nigeria is also in a group from which there will be only one qualifier, apart from co-host Tanzania. Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau complete Group L.

Title-holder Morocco shares Group A with Gabon, Niger and Lesotho. Senegal, the 2025 AFCON runner-up, will face Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia in Group J.

ALSO READ | ANALYSIS: Neymar returns to Brazil national team, but can he inspire the Seleção to a sixth World Cup?

Morocco lost a dramatic 2025 final to Senegal in Rabat, only to be declared the winner after an appeal to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The appeal resulted from many Senegal players leaving the pitch after Morocco was awarded an added-time penalty. Senegal eventually returned, Brahim Diaz missed the spot kick, and Pape Gueye struck an extra-time winner.

Senegal reacted to being stripped of the title by appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland and is awaiting a verdict.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe has repeatedly refuted reports that the 2027 AFCON would be postponed or taken away from the co-host due to delays with preparations.

“The next (2027) AFCON is going to be in East Africa during June and July next year. I have no doubts about that, despite all the challenges,” he assured reporters recently.

Meanwhile, South Africa, Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe have officially applied to host the 2028 AFCON. If successful, it would be the first edition staged in four countries.

South Africa hosted the 1996 and 2013 editions, as replacements for Kenya and Libya respectively. Kenya did not meet preparation deadlines while security issues ruled out Libya.

From 2028, the AFCON will change from being a biennial to a four-yearly event. The change was necessitated to fit the event into the global calendar.

Published on May 19, 2026