The Africa Cup of Nations qualifying draw, held in Cairo, has served up one of the most compelling group-stage matchups the continent can offer: Ghana versus Ivory Coast. The two West African powerhouses have been placed together in Group C for the road to Afcon 2027, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from 19 June to 17 July 2027.

A heavyweight collision in Group C

Ghana's Black Stars find themselves in a group that will demand every ounce of their quality. Alongside Ivory Coast, they will face The Gambia — who memorably reached the quarter-finals on their debut at the 2021 tournament — and Somalia. On paper it is the most demanding grouping in the entire draw, a point not lost on former Ivory Coast forward Max-Alain Gradel, who was present at the ceremony as one of the draw's assistants.

"Why always us? This group is a difficult group," said Gradel, who lifted the Afcon trophy with the Elephants on home soil in 2022. "But we will do everything that we can to qualify. I believe in the team so there is no problem."

It is a characteristically determined response, though his initial exasperation speaks to just how competitive this group will be. For Ghana, the stakes are arguably even higher. The Black Stars were not placed in the top pot of seeds, having slipped in the world rankings after failing to qualify for the previous edition of the tournament, held in Morocco across December 2024 and January 2025. Missing out on Afcon 2025 was a significant blow to Ghanaian football's prestige, and another failure to reach the finals would be deeply damaging.

An additional complication for three groups

The format itself throws up an interesting wrinkle. The 48 competing nations have been divided into 12 groups of four, with the top two from each group advancing to the finals. However, because Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda are guaranteed places as co-hosts, the teams drawn into those respective groups — Groups A, D, and L — are effectively competing for a single automatic qualification spot.

Nigeria, South Africa and Tunisia are among those who must navigate that compressed path. Nigeria find themselves in Group L alongside Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau, while South Africa face Kenya, Guinea and Eritrea in Group A. Tunisia, meanwhile, must contend with hosts Uganda, Libya and Botswana in Group H. There is very little room for slip-ups in any of those pools.

How the schedule unfolds

Qualifying gets under way later this year, with the opening two matchdays scheduled between 21 September and 6 October 2026. Matchdays three and four follow from 9 to 17 November 2026, before the concluding fixtures wrap up between 22 and 30 March 2027 — just weeks before the tournament itself begins.

Elsewhere in the draw, record seven-time champions Egypt have been grouped with Angola, Malawi and South Sudan in what looks a more navigable path. Senegal, whose participation at the Afcon 2025 final remains legally contested following a dispute referred to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, have been drawn in Group J alongside Mozambique, Sudan and Ethiopia.

For neutrals, however, all eyes will inevitably be drawn back to Group C. The Ghana versus Ivory Coast fixture alone carries enormous weight, and with only two sides progressing, even a single stumble against The Gambia or Somalia could prove fatal. Both nations will consider Afcon qualification the minimum expectation — but this draw has ensured that expectation will be anything but straightforward to meet.

Frequently asked

When does Afcon 2027 qualifying start?
The first two matchdays of Afcon 2027 qualifying are scheduled between 21 September and 6 October 2026, with further fixtures in November 2026 and the final two rounds in March 2027.
Where is Afcon 2027 being held?
The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, running from 19 June to 17 July 2027.
How do teams qualify for Afcon 2027?
The 48 teams are split into 12 groups of four. The top two sides from each group qualify for the finals, though in groups containing one of the three host nations, only one automatic spot is available to the non-host teams.