The Africa Cup of Nations is the biggest international football competition in Africa, and the road to AFCON 2027 is already underway. This edition will feature 24 teams and will take place in three different countries – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The first jointly hosted AFCON tournament will take place between 19 June and 17 July.
Our website has prepared this page to help you follow the latest AFCON fixtures, results and table, including the ongoing qualification campaign. That’s not all – previous data and results are also available.
But let’s not focus only on data – there are hundreds of things you need to know, and that is exactly what you’ll find below.
AFCON 2027 Dates and Hosts
AFCON 2027 will take place from 19 June to 17 July in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. The competition includes a total of 24 national teams, with the three host countries qualifying automatically. As we said, this will be the first jointly hosted edition of the tournament and the first to be staged in East Africa since 1976.
There are several important things that fans need to know, besides the dates and location. Here, we’ve gathered some of the most important details about the upcoming AFCON:
| Detail: | More info: |
| Tournament dates | 19 June – 17 July 2027 |
| Host countries | Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda |
| Participating nations | 24 |
| Groups | groups |
| Total matches | 52 |
| Defending champions | Morocco |
| Final venue | TBA |
AFCON Host Cities and Stadiums
Currently, there are 10 potential venues: three in Kenya and Uganda, and 4 in Tanzania. Right now, these are not 100% confirmed, so do not be surprised if there are changes in the near future.
| Country: | City: | Proposed stadium: |
| Kenya | Nairobi | Talanta Sports City |
| Kenya | Nairobi | Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani |
| Kenya | Nairobi | Nyayo National Stadium |
| Uganda | Kampala | Mandela National Stadium (Namboole)Hoima City Stadium |
| Uganda | Hoima | Hoima City Stadium |
| Uganda | Lira | Akii-Bua Stadium |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | Benjamin Mkapa Stadium |
| Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | Uhuru Stadium |
| Tanzania | Arusha | Samia Suluhu Hassan Stadium |
| Tanzania | Dodoma | Jamhuri Stadium |
AFCON 2027 Qualifiers
At the moment, we still have plenty of time before the tournament kicks off. However, we are at the qualifiers stage, which means we still have a long way to go before the final 24 teams are set. Actually, 21, because the host nations – Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are automatically qualified as hosts, while other teams should go through the qualifying campaign, which is played over six matchdays between September 2026 and March 2027.
- Matchdays 1 and 2: 21 September – 6 October 2026 (completed)
- Matchdays 3 and 4: 9–17 November 2026
- Matchdays 5 and 6: 22–30 March 2027
In nine of the 12 groups, the two top teams will qualify for AFCON 2027. However, the format differs in groups D, H, and L because they include the three host nations. In each of these groups, only the highest-ranked team other than the host will advance to the next stage of the tournament. That makes a total of 21 teams TBD.
For the Nigerian team, this is especially important info. The Super Eagles landed in Group L with Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, meaning Nigeria need to finish as the highest-ranked team because Tanzania secured its place automatically.
AFCON Facts and Data
AFCON’s first edition was played in 1957, and since then, it has produced some records that have remained untouched basically for decades. Egypt leads the way with seven titles, some of them in consecutive years. Samuel Eto’o is the leading goalscorer of all time, while Nigeria holds the record for the most top-three finishes in the history of the tournament. Below, we’ve listed some of the most exciting records and statistics, alongside crucial data from the previous AFCON edition – in 2025.
AFCON Top Scorers to Watch in 2027
When we talk about data, the picture won’t be complete without mentioning the main national prospects we expect to perform well based on their past tournament results. At the 2025 AFCON, Brahim Diaz was Morocco’s top scorer with 5 goals. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah followed with four each, while six other players finished the tournament with three goals.
| Player: | National Team: | Goals: |
| Brahim Díaz | Morocco | 5 |
| Victor Osimhen | Nigeria | 4 |
| Mohamed Salah | Egypt | 4 |
| Ademola Lookman | Nigeria | 3 |
| Ayoub El Kaabi | Ivory Coast | 3 |
| Riyad Mahrez | Morocco | 3 |
| Lassine Sinayoko | Mali | 3 |
| Amad Diallo | Ivory Coast | 3 |
| Pape Gueye | Senegal | 3 |
With that said, we can conclude that several of the leading top scorers from the previous tournament will be back in the Golden Boot race in 2027. Osimhen and Lookman give Nigeria two proven tournament goal machines, while Morocco has Diaz and El Kaabi as their main attack options. Salah and Mahrez are also names that are worth following if their respective nations secure a place after qualification.
However, there is still time for that picture to change. AFCON 2027 does not start until June next year, and the qualifications alone are not enough to draw conclusions about final squads or individual players’ quality.
The previous tournament gave us a helpful benchmark, but whether AFCON 2027 will produce the same attacking trends will be one of the interesting things to observe as the tournament approaches.
AFCON Insights
Recent AFCON editions show several trends that are worth considering before the 2027 edition comes into play. Goals in the recent editions have increased considerably. But the stage of the competition and the strength of the favourites remain one of the most important factors when assessing betting markets for AFCON.
One of the clearest trends in recent editions of AFCON is the increase in goals. The first Afcon 2019, when the format was changed, and the number of teams reached 24, produced a total of 102 goals in 52 matches, while the 2023 edition raised the record to 119. Afcon 2025 went even further, passing a total of 121 goals.
The difference is even clearer when we compare the group stages. Afcon 2021 produced 68 goals across 36 group games, averaging 1.89 per game. Four years later, in 2025, this number is 87 goals across the same 36 matches, for an average of 2.42 goals per match.
For casual football fans, these numbers may not give much information. However, for bettors, it is important because it means that the old assumption that AFCON is automatically a low-scoring competition right now is difficult to justify. If you are focusing on goal markets, you should assess the fixtures match by match, but recent tournament data shows a more attacking trend than we saw earlier. Under/over options are also worth considering.
It’s not a coincidence that in the previous paragraph we mentioned the group stage. Every part of the AFCON follows a different pattern, and the later knockout rounds can become considerably tighter, because one mistake can be fatal.
Afcon 2025 is a good example. Morocco and Nigeria played 120 goalless minutes in their semifinal before the match progressed into Penalties. Senegal also beat Egypt 1-0 in the other semi-final. Later, Nigeria also proceeded to penalties against Egypt for the third-place match.
This distinction matters when looking at goal-based markets, BTTS or over/under. A scoring trend from the group stage should not be applied to higher-risk final or semifinal matches, where the approach can be very different.
In Afcon, reputation rarely translates into a predictable result. The 24-team format usually allows 4 third-placed teams to reach the round of 16, while the 2027 qualifiers have an unusual twist: three automatically qualified hosts are still competing in the qualifying groups despite their guaranteed place in the final tournament. Competitive group matches can make the outright match favourites less straightforward.
Afcon 2023 provided one of the freshest examples. Ivory Coast lost to Equatorial Guinea 4-0 and finished third in their group, yet survived, reached the knockout stage and eventually won the tournament. Mauritania also recorded an upset, recording its first Afcon victory ever against the former Champions Algeria.
Therefore, the lesson is not simply counting on the underdog, but to research even better. Team form, the match-up, and the tournament stage provide much more useful context than reputation or last edition’s performances.
What to Expect from AFCON 2027
- Qualification form – The qualifiers run until March 2027, just a few months before the tournament begins. This gives us a relatively recent sample of competitive matches to assess each team. Results alone will not tell the whole story, but performances against stronger opponents, goals scored and conceded and consistency throughout the campaign should help separate the current form from the reputation.
- The final squads – there is a lot of time till June, so many things remain unknown. One of them is the final squad. A lot can happen between now and the middle of 2027, including injuries and other changes. This is particualrly important for teams that usually rely on key players.
- A return to the regular June – July schedule – Afcon will take place from 19 June to 17 July, shortly after the end of the European club season. This avoids the mid-season disruption associated with the previous edition, but that also means some of the leading players will already be exhausted at the end of the season.
- Travel and recovery – This will be the first AFCON that will be held across several nations. While the three countries are neighbours, the distance between matches, recovery time and weather all become relevant once the schedule is available.
- Three host nations – Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda will all have home advantage after qualifying automatically. None has successfully won Afcon, and none of them actually passed through the group stage, so this support may help them close the gap with stronger opponents.
Teams to Follow at AFCON 2027
Nevertheless, the full AFCON match-up will not be known until March, several of Africa’s leading teams are already worth following. Morocco, Senegal and the Ivory Coast have some of the strongest arguments based on their performances and the already started qualifying campaigns.
Morocco
Morocco has the strongest combination of recent tournament performance and current qualifying form. The Atlas Lions reached the 2026 final after conceding very little throughout the tournament and beating Nigeria on penalties in the semifinal.
Morocco officially won the previous Afcon in 2025 after the CAF appeal board ruled that Senegal had forfeited the final, recording a 3-0 win for Morocco. On the pitch, the result was 1-0 to Senegal; however, Morocco still had a good run and performance that is worth acknowledging.
Their road to 2027 also started well. Morocco has won both of its opening qualifiers, meaning the team now has six points after two matches.
Senegal
Few teams can match the Senegal consistency at Afcon. The team have reached three of the last four Afcon finals, appearing in 2019, 2021 and 2025. They even won the match against Morocco in the last edition of AFCON after extra time, but the CAF board ruled that they forfeited the match after a controversial penalty decision.
Patrick Vieira is in charge now, meaning the 2027 cycle adds a new variable. Senegal has taken 4 points from its opening two qualifiers, following a draw with Mozambique and an away win over Ethiopia.
Ivory Coast
Ivory Coast earns its place for a different reason. The Elephants won AFCON 2023 and then reached the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025, where they were eliminated 3-2 by Egypt. That gives them both recent championship experience and another knockout-stage appearance at the following tournament.
Their start to the AFCON 2027 qualifiers strengthens the case. Ivory Coast is one of the teams to have won both of its opening matches, taking six points from six and immediately putting itself in a strong qualifying position.
Ivory Coast also has one more, let’s say, advantage – they are not on this list because of their reputation alone. They have won one of the last two Afcon editions, reached the knockout stage one more time and have started the new qualifying campaign with a perfect record.
AFCON Bonuses
AFCON 2027 is expected to attract dedicated promotions from Nigerian betting sites before and during the tournament. These can include odds boosts, accumulator bonuses, free bets and other football offers, although the available promotions will depend on the bookmaker and may change throughout the competition.
We suggest that you always check the terms and conditions of the offers before claiming them. And to follow this page, as we will update this section with the latest bonuses as the tournament approaches.
FAQ
When does AFCON 2027 start?
AFCON 2027 starts on 19 June 2027 and runs until 17 July. The tournament will feature 24 national teams competing across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
Who is hosting AFCON 2027?
Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are jointly hosting AFCON 2027. It will be the first Africa Cup of Nations hosted by three countries and the first edition staged in East Africa since Ethiopia hosted AFCON 1976.
When is the AFCON final?
The AFCON 2027 final will take place on 17 July 2027. CAF has confirmed the date, while the final venue is still to be announced.
Where can I find AFCON fixtures and results?
You can follow the latest AFCON fixtures, results and standings in our AFCON match centre at the top of this page. It includes the latest matches and tournament data as they become available.
Is there an AFCON women?
Yes. The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is CAF’s main international competition for women’s national teams in Africa. It is a separate tournament from the men’s Africa Cup of Nations and has its own qualification process and schedule.
