Nigeria AFCON qualifiers campaign will see the Super Eagles face Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau

Nigeria national football team have been drawn against Madagascar national football team, Tanzania national football team and Guinea-Bissau national football team in Group L of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

Also read: Super Eagles Get Positive AFCON 2027 Qualifying Draw

The draw ceremony took place on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Egyptian Football Association, with former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong participating as one of the draw assistants.

A total of 48 countries will compete in the qualifying campaign, which has been divided into 12 groups, with 24 teams expected to secure places at the finals.

The 2027 tournament will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between June 19 and July 17, 2027.

The Nigeria AFCON qualifiers group contains familiar opponents the Super Eagles have encountered in previous campaigns and continental competitions.

Nigeria defeated Madagascar home and away during the qualifying series for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.

The Super Eagles also shared honours with Guinea-Bissau during the race to the 2023 AFCON finals in Ivory Coast, with Guinea-Bissau securing victory in Abuja before Nigeria responded with an away win in Bissau.

Tanzania were equally grouped with Nigeria during the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.

Both teams played out a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam before Nigeria claimed a narrow 1-0 victory in Uyo through a long-range effort from Kelechi Iheanacho.

Despite that result, Nigeria failed to qualify for the tournament hosted by Gabon.

The two sides also met recently during the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, where Nigeria recorded a 2-1 victory in the opening group match.

However, Tanzania’s status as one of the tournament co-hosts creates a significant twist in Group L.

Because Tanzania have already qualified automatically for the finals, only the group winners will secure qualification from the section.

The same rule applies to every qualifying group containing any of the three co-host nations, while the top two teams from the remaining groups will advance.

Among other standout fixtures in the draw, Ivory Coast national football team, champions of the 2023 AFCON, were drawn alongside Ghana national football team, Gambia national football team and Somalia national football team in Group C.

Senegal national football team, winners of the 2025 edition, will face Mozambique national football team, Sudan national football team and Ethiopia national football team in Group J.

Meanwhile, hosts Morocco national football team were drawn against Gabon national football team, Niger national football team and Lesotho national football team.

The qualifying campaign will be played across three FIFA international windows.

Matchdays one and two are scheduled between September 21 and October 6, 2026, while matchdays three and four will hold from November 9 to 17, 2026.

Also read: William Troost-Ekong Named Draw Assistant for AFCON 2027 Qualifiers

The final rounds of matches are fixed for March 22 to 30, 2027, when the complete line-up for the continental tournament is expected to be confirmed.