Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been handed a three-team group for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifiers, with Madagascar, Tanzania and Guinea-Bissau standing between them and a place at the continental tournament.
The draw, conducted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in Cairo on May 19, 2026, placed Nigeria in Group L alongside the three countries.
The 2027 AFCON will be co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
Tanzania’s presence in Nigeria’s group means the Super Eagles face a slightly different qualification equation because the co-hosts already have an automatic place at the finals. Only one team other than Tanzania will qualify from Group L.
Here are the three countries Nigeria will face:
Madagascar
Madagascar will be one of Nigeria’s opponents in Group L.
The two countries have met in previous AFCON qualifying campaigns. Nigeria defeated Madagascar home and away during the qualifiers for the 2012 AFCON.
Madagascar have also established themselves as a more competitive side in African football in recent years. Their most notable AFCON run came in 2019, when they surprisingly reached the quarter-finals in Egypt.
For Nigeria, the matches against Madagascar could prove important in determining who finishes at the top of the group.
Tanzania
Tanzania are the co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON and are therefore guaranteed a place at the tournament.
Despite their automatic qualification, the Taifa Stars will participate fully in the qualifying campaign. However, because Tanzania already have a guaranteed place, only the highest-ranked team apart from Tanzania will qualify from Group L.
Nigeria have faced Tanzania before in AFCON qualifying. The two sides were in the same group for the 2017 tournament. They played a goalless draw in Dar es Salaam before Nigeria secured a 1-0 victory in Uyo, with Kelechi Iheanacho scoring the decisive goal.
The upcoming meetings will therefore renew a familiar rivalry between the two sides.
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea-Bissau complete Nigeria’s Group L opponents.
The two West African nations have also crossed paths in recent AFCON qualifying campaigns. They were drawn together in the race for the 2023 tournament, with Guinea-Bissau winning in Abuja before Nigeria claimed a victory in Bissau.
Guinea-Bissau have become regular participants at the AFCON in recent editions and will look to cause another upset against the Super Eagles.
Their previous victory over Nigeria in Abuja is a reminder that the Super Eagles cannot afford to underestimate any opponent in the group.
When will Nigeria begin their qualifying campaign?
The first two matchdays of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers are scheduled for the FIFA international window between September 21 and October 6, 2026.
Matchdays three and four will take place between November 9 and 17, 2026, while the final two rounds are scheduled for March 22-30, 2027.
With Tanzania already assured of a place at the finals, Nigeria’s main objective will be to finish above Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau and claim the group’s sole qualifying ticket.
The Super Eagles were placed in Pot 1 for the draw alongside some of Africa’s leading football nations, reflecting their status among the continent’s top-ranked teams.
The qualification campaign will provide Nigeria with an opportunity to secure a return to the AFCON finals after their strong run at the 2025 edition, where they finished third.
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