FULL LIST: CAF unveils draw for 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the draw for the CAF Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2027 qualifiers. The draw, conducted at CAF headquarters, sets the stage for the continental competition that also acts as Africa's pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The initial phase of the qualifiers involves 14 two-legged ties. These matches are slated to take place with the first legs on September 28, 2026, and the return legs on October 6, 2026. Participating teams in this round include Sierra Leone vs. Burkina Faso, Mauritania vs. DR Congo, São Tomé vs. Equatorial Guinea, Togo vs. Libya, Tunisia vs. Benin, Kenya vs. Tanzania, Djibouti vs. South Sudan, Ethiopia vs. Uganda, Rwanda vs. Sudan, Comoros vs. Madagascar, Angola vs. Namibia, Seychelles vs. Botswana, Malawi vs. Eswatini, and Zimbabwe vs. Mauritius.

Winners from these first-round matchups will advance to the second round, where they will face higher-ranked or seeded teams. The pairings for the second round include winners of the initial ties competing against nations such as Zambia, Nigeria, Niger, Ghana, Gabon, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Morocco, Cameroon, South Africa, Congo, Guinea, Algeria, and Mali. The second-round first legs are scheduled for November 9, 2026, with the second legs concluding on November 17, 2026.

Egypt has already secured a spot in the finals as the host nation. In total, 42 nations are vying for the seven remaining places in the 2027 finals. The tournament's significance extends beyond continental bragging rights, as it determines which African teams will represent the continent at the global Olympic event.