Nigeria’s road to AFCON 2027 begins as Super Eagles await draw fate

Three-time champions Nigeria’s Super Eagles will soon learn the teams standing between them and a place at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Afrik-Foot reports.

This development comes as the draw for the qualifiers of the next edition of the continental showpiece have been fixed for Tuesday, 19 May.

The announcement was confirmed by Confederation of African Football, which revealed that 48 countries will enter the qualification race. Among them are co-host nations Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who are already assured of places at the final tournament but will still take part in the qualifiers.

The format is straightforward and will produce 24 teams for the tournament. The 48 teams in the draw will be split into 12 groups of four. Each team will play home and away matches, and only the top two sides in each group will qualify for AFCON 2027. That means consistency over several months will be key, not just one or two good performances.

Nigeria: Super Eagles’ rich AFCON history

Nigeria head into the qualifiers with strong pedigree. The Super Eagles finished third at the last tournament, the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, held in Morocco. They secured the bronze medal after beating Egypt in the third-place match, adding yet another podium finish to their impressive record.

Historically, Nigeria is one of Africa’s most successful teams. They have won the AFCON title three times, in 1980, 1994, and 2013, and have reached the semi-finals a joint-record 17 times.

Even more interesting is their consistency: whenever Nigeria reach the semi-finals, they almost always end up with a medal. They have also never lost a third-place playoff match, showing their ability to respond strongly after disappointment.

The upcoming tournament itself is already scheduled, giving teams a clear target. The opening match of AFCON 2027 will be played on Saturday, 19 June 2027, while the final is set for Saturday, 17 July 2027.

However, CAF has not yet decided which of the three host nations will stage the opening game and the final.

Nigeria’s target at AFCON 2027 will be to secure a fourth continental trophy and a first in 14 years.