CAF unveils draw for 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers
The Confederation of African Football has released the official draw for the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027 qualifiers. The draw, conducted at CAF headquarters, features 14 two-legged ties in the first round. Matches are scheduled for September 28, 2026, for the first legs, and October 6, 2026, for the return legs. Notable first-round matchups include Sierra Leone vs Burkina Faso, Mauritania vs DR Congo, and Kenya vs Tanzania. Winners will advance to the second round to face seeded teams like Zambia, Nigeria, and Ghana. Second-round first legs are set for November 9, 2026, with return legs on November 17, 2026. A total of 42 nations are competing for seven spots in the 2027 finals in Egypt, which will also serve as Africa鈥檚 qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Egypt has automatically qualified as the host nation.
