Benni to face Bafana Draw for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers concluded
- Africa Cup of Nations
- Algeria
- Angola
- Benin
- Botswana
- Burkina Faso
- Burundi
- Ca
- Cameroon
- D.R. Congo
- Egypt
- Equatorial Guinea
- Eritrea
- Gabon
- Gambia
- Ghana
- Kenya
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Morocco
- Namibia
- Niger
- South Africa
- South Sudan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- Cape Verde Islands National Team
- Comoros National Team
- Congo DR National Team
- Ethiopia National Team
- Guinea-Bissau National Team
- Liberia National Team
- Libya National Team
- Madagascar National Team
- Mali National Team
- Mauritania National Team
- Mozambique National Team
- Nigeria National Team
- Rwanda National Team
- Senegal National Team
- Sierra Leone National Team
- Somalia National Team
- Togo National Team
- Tunisia National Team
- Zambia National Team
- Zimbabwe National Team
The 48 teams were placed in 12 groups with the top two in each pool advancing to the finals though Kenya Uganda and Tanzania have all already secured their places as co hosts.
In those pools only one other team will advance which means there will be little pressure on McCarthy when he comes up against Bafana Bafana for whom he still holds the international goal scoring record with 31.
Guinea and Eritrea are the other two teams in Group D.
Holders Morocco headline Group A and face Gabon Niger and Lesotho in what should be a stroll to the 24 team finals which will be staged from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
Egypt have two trips to Southern Africa as they face Angola Malawi and South Sudan in Group B while there is a West African flavour to Group C which includes 2023 edition winners Côte d’Ivoire Ghana The Gambia and Somalia.
DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe are in Group E while Group F could be closely contested between Burkina Faso Benin Mauritania and the Central African Republic.
Cameroon will want to make up for the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup as they take on Comoros Namibia and Congo in Group G. They have had some tough times against Namibia in the recent past.
Tunisia Uganda Libya and Botswana make up Group H while Algeria Zambia Togo and Burundi are in Group I.
Senegal who won the 2025 final 1 0 against hosts Morocco before the result was overturned should have a breeze to the finals with Mozambique Sudan and Ethiopia in their pool.
Mali Cape Verde Rwanda and Liberia are in Group K and Nigeria should have no problem in Group L with Madagascar Tanzania and Guinea Bissau.
The qualifiers will be played over three international windows with Matchdays 1 and 2 from 21 September to 6 October Matchdays 3 and 4 from 9 to 17 November and Matchdays 5 and 6 from 22 to 30 March 2027.
TOTALENERGIES CAF AFCON PAMOJA 2027 QUALIFIERS DRAW
GROUP A: Morocco Gabon Niger Lesotho
GROUP B: Egypt Angola Malawi South Sudan
GROUP C: Cote d’Ivoire Ghana The Gambia Somalia
GROUP D: South Africa Guinea Kenya Eritrea
GROUP E: DR Congo Equatorial Guinea Sierra Leone Zimbabwe
GROUP F: Burkina Faso Benin Mauritania Central African Republic
GROUP G: Cameroon Comoros Namibia Congo
GROUP H: Tunisia Uganda Libya Botswana
GROUP I: Algeria Zambia Togo Burundi
GROUP J: Senegal Mozambique Sudan Ethiopia
GROUP K: Mali Cape Verde Rwanda Liberia
GROUP L: Nigeria Madagascar Tanzania Guinea Bissau