Nigeria Drawn Against Familiar Foes in 2027 AFCON Qualifiers
Nigeria will face Madagascar, co-hosts Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The draw took place at the Egyptian Football Association headquarters on Tuesday, with former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong assisting.
A total of 48 teams will compete in the qualifiers, forming 12 groups, with 24 teams advancing to the finals.
Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda will host the tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Nigeria was drawn from Pot 1 and handed opponents they have faced in previous qualifying campaigns and recent AFCON tournaments.
The Super Eagles defeated Madagascar home and away in the 2012 AFCON qualifiers and shared results with Guinea-Bissau in the 2023 qualifiers, winning in Bissau and losing in Abuja.
Nigeria also played Tanzania in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers, drawing 0-0 in Dar es Salaam before winning 1-0 in Uyo through Kelechi Iheanacho’s long-range strike, though they failed to qualify for the finals in Gabon.
The teams met again at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, with Nigeria winning 2-1 in their opening group match.
Because Tanzania qualifies automatically as co-host, only the top team in Group L will progress to the 2027 finals.
Other groups containing co-hosts will follow the same rule, while the top two teams from the remaining groups will advance.
2023 champions Ivory Coast were drawn with Ghana, Gambia, and Somalia in Group C.
Winners of the 2025 AFCON, Senegal, will face Mozambique, Sudan, and Ethiopia in Group J.
2025 AFCON hosts Morocco will take on Gabon, Niger, and Lesotho in the qualifiers.
The qualifying campaign will be played across three international windows, with the first two matchdays scheduled from September 21 to October 6, 2026.
Matchdays three and four will take place from November 9 to 17, 2026.
The final two rounds are set for March 22 to 30, 2027, when the tournament line-up will be confirmed.
Fans on social media expressed optimism that Nigeria’s experience in the group gives them an advantage over familiar opponents.
One supporter wrote, “We know these teams well, and with our current squad, I believe Nigeria will top the group without much trouble.”
Sports analysts noted that the presence of co-host Tanzania makes the group tricky, as the automatic qualification spot puts pressure on Nigeria to maintain consistency.
A former Super Eagles player said, “Every match counts in this group, and Nigeria must treat each game like a final if they want to secure the lone qualification spot.”
Nigerians from all walks of life are already looking forward to the qualifiers, hoping for a strong performance that could set the stage for a successful tournament in 2027.
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