2027 AFCON Draw: Ghana and Ivory Coast in Group of Death
The stage is set for the road to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) following the official qualifying draw. High-stakes matchups and coaching storylines lead the narrative, with Carlos Queiroz’s Ghana side drawing a heavyweight clash against defending champions Ivory Coast in Group C.
Heavyweights Collide: Ghana vs. Ivory Coast
In what is undoubtedly the “Group of Death,” Carlos Queiroz will lead the four-time champions Ghana against a powerhouse Ivory Coast squad boasting three titles. Rounding out Group C are Gambia and Somalia. The Black Stars, who have not tasted continental glory since 1982, face a steep challenge to reassert their dominance against the Ivorian side.
Portuguese Influence and Tough Paths
Several nations led by Portuguese coaches or featuring strong ties to Portuguese football found their paths to the 2027 tournament. Paulo Duarte’s Guinea faces a stern test in Group D alongside South Africa—former champions in 1996—as well as Kenya and Eritrea.
Mozambique, under the guidance of former Portugal-based player Chiquinho Conde, has been placed in Group J. They face a formidable Senegal side, as well as Sudan and Ethiopia. Angola also faces an uphill battle in Group B, where they must contend with seven-time record-holders Egypt, alongside Malawi and South Sudan.
Regional Contenders and Debuts
- Group K: Cape Verde, fresh off their World Cup debut this summer, will look to maintain their momentum against Mali, Rwanda, and Liberia.
- Group L: Guinea-Bissau faces a daunting task against three-time winners Nigeria, as well as Tanzania and Madagascar.
- Group E: The Democratic Republic of Congo, two-time champions and a rising force in African football, will battle Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Zimbabwe.
Controversy Clouds the Defending Champions
The draw comes amid extraordinary legal drama involving the previous tournament. While Senegal celebrated a 1-0 extra-time victory over Morocco in the 2025 AFCON final, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently stripped them of the title. Following a legal ruling and an appeal by Morocco—stemming from a match where Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest of a penalty decision—CAF awarded the trophy to Morocco. Senegal is currently contesting this decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
The Road to East Africa
The qualifying format is unforgiving: only the top two teams from each of the 12 groups will secure a ticket to the final tournament. The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, scheduled to take place from June 19 to July 17. For nations like São Tomé and Príncipe, the journey has already ended following a pre-qualifying defeat to Ethiopia.
Image: Pexels – Chibili Mugala
