The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July, bringing the biggest international football tournament back to East Africa for the first time since 1976. It will also be the first AFCON that will be hosted jointly by three nations, with the regular 24-team format.
The three host nations already secured their places, while the remaining teams are competing in the AFCON 2027 qualifiers. The first two matchdays were completed in October 2026, with Morocco, Ivory Coast, South Africa, DR Congo, Rwanda, Mali and Guinea-Bissau among the teams making perfect starts to their campaigns.
For more info about the upcoming edition of Afcon, you can use our page to follow the latest Afcon results, table and groups together with upcoming fixtures and even predictions. Previous Africa Cup of Nations results are also available, allowing you to use historical data.
Below, we cover everything Kenya football fans need to know – from the tournament format and data, to Kenya’s role as a co-host, to betting market trends.
AFCON 2027 Dates & Tournament Format
AFCON 2027 will be from 19 June to 17 July, and as we said, a total of three countries will be jointly hosting the tournament. Here are some of the most important details you need to know before you take a look at the data we’ve prepared for you.
| Detail: | AFCON 2027: |
| Tournament dates | 19 June – 17 July 2027 |
| Host countries | Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda |
| Participating teams | 24 |
| Groups | 6 groups of 4 teams |
| Group-stage matches per team | 3 |
| Qualification spots | 21 + 3 hosts |
| AFCON Final | 17 July 2027 |
As is the regular practice in such international tournaments, the host nations qualify automatically, leaving 21 places to be decided in the qualifications. The 24 teams at the final stage will be divided into six groups of four teams. Each team will play three group-stage matches, facing each of the other teams once. The top two from every group and the four best third-placed teams will advance to the Round of 16. From that point, the tournament continues as a direct knockout format till the finals.
It’s important to note that this year’s edition returned to the regular tournament schedule – in June and July – right after the end of the European club season, instead of the previous one that was held in December.
AFCON 2027 Groups & Qualifiers
The AFCON qualifiers feature 48 teams, divided into 12 groups of four, competing for the 21 places remaining at the final tournament. The hosts automatically receive a spot, while others have to complete six qualifying matchdays to secure the remaining places at the final tournament.
In nine of those 12 groups, the top two teams will qualify for the AFCON 2027. In the groups where the host nations are – Groups D, H and L, the system works a bit differently. In each of these groups, the host has a guaranteed place, meaning only the highest-ranked team outside the host nation will qualify for the final tournament.
This means the AFCON standings remain relevant even for the three automatically qualified hosts. Kenya, for example, continues to compete in Group D, but its final position will not determine whether the Harambee Stars participate in AFCON 2027.
Once AFCON 2027 qualifiers are complete, the 24 participating nations will be placed into six AFCON groups of four teams for the final tournament.
The qualifying campaign is played across three international windows. Matchdays 1 and 2 took place from 21 September to 6 October 2026, followed by Matchdays 3 and 4 from 9 to 17 November 2026. The final two rounds, Matchdays 5 and 6, are scheduled for 22–30 March 2027, when the full AFCON 2027 line-up is expected to be confirmed.
Kenya at AFCON 2027
Kenya will compete at AFCON 2027 as one of the host nations alongside Tanzania and Uganda. As an AFCON host, Kenya qualified automatically and will return to the tournament for the first time since 2019, regardless of its results in the ongoing qualifying campaign.
This edition of the tournament is particularly important for Harambee Stars because they have never progressed beyond the AFCON group stage. Playing at home gives a different opportunity for Kenya, with the local support and the familiar weather conditions potentially working in their favour.
Despite the guaranteed place, Kenya still takes part in the qualification process. The matches will help determine which of the other teams in Group D will qualify for the final stage.
For additional information, we’ve created a Harambee Stars AFCON 2027 guide, which will give you the latest results, squad updates and key players.
Africa Cup of Nations Stats and Records
The 24-team format has produced some interesting Africa Cup of Nations stats since it was introduced in the 2019 edition. More teams and additional knockout matches have changed the tournament, with the recent editions having produced more goals and some upsets, especially in the latter stages.
The first 24-team tournament produced 102 goals across 52 matches. AFCON 2023 and 2025 have surpassed that number significantly with 119 and 121 goals. This means the scoring average has increased significantly.
In AFCON 2025, Morocco, Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Algeria, and the Ivory Coast won their groups and survived the round of 16. Four of the group winners reached the semi-final places, taking all the 4 slots. So make sure to follow the teams who are favourites in their groups – they probably have the potential to get far into the game.
Ivory Coast provided such an example at AFCON 2023, qualifying for the Round of 16 as one of the four best third-placed teams with only three points. The hosts then eliminated Senegal, Mali and DR Congo before beating Nigeria in the final to become African champions.
After the AFCON 2025 group stage, the leading scorers had only three goals each, 13 players had scored twice, and another 53 players had scored once. Rather than being dominated by one prolific goalscorer, the goals were distributed across players from numerous teams and positions. In short, this means that even with one or two missing key forwards, a team still has chances to compete on the highest level.
AFCON Betting Markets & Trends
Afcon results from recent years can also reveal some important patterns for bettors. We’ve looked at several past editions and stages to identify trends worth considering ahead of Afcon 2027, if you are keen on betting.
AFCON 2021 averaged 1.89 goals per match, while that figure at the 2025 edition increased to 2.42. This means treating AFCON as a low-scoring competition can be misleading. Especially given that the Under 2.5 Goals market won in 57.7% of matches, roughly half of the group stage. And this is where the over market starts to sound logical, more logical than before. Nevertheless, researching the stats before placing a bet should be your go-to strategy.
At Afcon 2025, the knockouts delivered plenty of low-scoring games, with many matches finishing under 2.5 goals (approximately 69% of the time). Senegal beat Egypt 1-0, and Morocco and Nigeria remained 0-0 throughout the whole match and the extra time, deciding the winner by a penalty shootout. We say this because it is important to have a context and do your homework accordingly.
There were many high-scoring games, including Nigeria’s 3-2 victory against Tunisia and Mozambique’s 3-2 victory over Gabon. Teams with a strong attacking record can easily draw your attention to the BTTS: Yes market. However, there are also games where one side fails to score. If you are a fan of the Both Teams to Score market, the overall performance for the tournament is not that indicative. Make sure to learn as much as possible about the team’s style, not only in attack but also on the defensive side. You could find many interesting dependencies.
A level score in the group stage produces a normal draw, while knockout matches can continue through extra time and penalties. At AFCON 2025, Mali needed penalties to eliminate Tunisia in the Round of 16, Morocco did the same against Nigeria in the semi-final, and the third-place match between Nigeria and Egypt was also decided by a shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Over the last AFCON tournaments, most winning matches were decided by a single goal rather than a larger margin. This leaves almost zero room for error if you rely on handicaps. Even if a strong favourite plays with a pretty low-performing nation, handicaps in Afcon seem like a pretty risky idea, even though the odds may say otherwise.
Key Factors for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations
We’ve talked about previous data enough. Now it is time to see exactly what lies ahead of us. AFCON 2027 will feature several changes that set it apart from previous editions. And that’s what we will take a look at right now.
- Three host nations: For the first time, the Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by three countries. Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will all play at home, but the tournament will also be spread across a much larger geographical area than a traditional single-country AFCON.
- Travel and recovery: Playing across three East African countries could make the tournament schedule particularly important. The match schedule will determine how much teams need to travel between matches and how much recovery time they have before their next game.
- The June – July schedule: AFCON 2027 runs from 19 June to 17 July, shortly after the end of the European club season. Many Africa Cup of Nations players based in Europe could therefore arrive after a long domestic campaign, making fitness, injuries and squad rotation important factors.
- Home advantage: Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will all have local support, familiar conditions and no need to qualify for the tournament. None of the three has traditionally been among the leading AFCON nations, making their performance at a home tournament particularly interesting to follow.
- Final squads and team form: There are still plenty of uncertain things before the first kickoff. Injuries, changes of form and final squad selections can significantly affect any team’s chances, meaning that you will need to take the current form and qualifiers’ performance with a grain of salt.
AFCON Bonuses in Kenya
As one of the major tournaments in Africa, AFCON usually comes with bonuses from the Kenyan bookies. These offers can be very different – from odds boosts to free bets & ACCA bonuses, but all of them aim the same – to make football betting on AFCON 2027 even more attractive. Below, we’ve listed all options we could find across the bookies right now. Keep in mind that these offers can change depending on the stage we are in, so make sure to read the T&C’s carefully.
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FAQ
When does AFCON 2027 start?
AFCON 2027 starts on 19 June 2027 and runs until 17 July 2027. The tournament will feature 24 national teams competing across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Who is hosting AFCON 2027?
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will jointly host AFCON 2027 under the Pamoja initiative. It will be the first Africa Cup of Nations hosted by three countries and the first edition staged in East Africa since 1976.
Is Kenya qualified for AFCON 2027?
Yes. Kenya has automatically qualified for AFCON 2027 as one of the three host nations, alongside Tanzania and Uganda. The Harambee Stars will return to the tournament for the first time since 2019.
Why is Kenya playing AFCON qualifiers if it has already qualified?
Kenya is participating in the qualifiers despite having an automatic place as a host nation. The matches provide competitive preparation for the Harambee Stars, while the highest-ranked non-host team in Group D will also qualify for the tournament.
Which stadiums will host AFCON 2027 in Kenya?
Kenya is preparing several venues for AFCON 2027, including Talanta Sports City, Kasarani Stadium and Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. However, the final list of approved tournament stadiums and their match allocations is still subject to official confirmation.
When is the AFCON 2027 final?
The AFCON 2027 final is scheduled for 17 July 2027. The venue and host city for the final have not yet been officially confirmed.
Where can I find the latest AFCON table?
The latest AFCON table is available on this page, where you can follow group positions, results and upcoming fixtures. The Africa Cup of Nations table shows each team’s points, wins, draws, losses, goals and current position.
Who are the most successful AFCON winners?
Egypt leads the list of AFCON winners with seven titles, followed by Cameroon with five and Ghana with four. Ivory Coast and Nigeria have won three titles each, making them two of the tournament’s other most successful nations.
