FULL LIST: CAF unveils draw for 2027 U-23 AFCON qualifiers

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The draw, conducted at CAF headquarters on Tuesday, was later posted on the body’s X handle.

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The first round consists of 14 two-legged ties.

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Matches will be played as follows:

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• Sierra Leone vs Burkina Faso
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• Mauritania vs DR Congo
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• São Tomé vs Equatorial Guinea
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• Togo vs Libya
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• Tunisia vs Benin
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• Kenya vs Tanzania
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• Djibouti vs South Sudan
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• Ethiopia vs Uganda
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• Rwanda vs Sudan
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• Comoros vs Madagascar
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• Angola vs Namibia
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• Seychelles vs Botswana
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• Malawi vs Eswatini
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• Zimbabwe vs Mauritius
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First legs are scheduled for September 28, 2026, with return legs on October 6, 2026.

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Winners of these ties will advance to the second round, where they will face higher-ranked or seeded teams.

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The second-round pairings are:

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• Winner of Sierra Leone/Burkina Faso vs Zambia
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• Winner of Mauritania/DR Congo vs Nigeria
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• Winner of São Tomé/Equatorial Guinea vs Niger
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• Winner of Togo/Libya vs Ghana
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• Winner of Tunisia/Benin vs Gabon
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• Winner of Kenya/Tanzania vs Côte d’Ivoire
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• Winner of Djibouti/South Sudan vs Senegal
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• Winner of Ethiopia/Uganda vs Morocco
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• Winner of Rwanda/Sudan vs Cameroon
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• Winner of Comoros/Madagascar vs South Africa
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• Winner of Angola/Namibia vs Congo
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• Winner of Seychelles/Botswana vs Guinea
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• Winner of Malawi/Eswatini vs Algeria
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• Winner of Zimbabwe/Mauritius vs Mali
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Second-round first legs will take place on November 9, 2026, with second legs on November 17, 2026.

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A total of 42 nations are competing for the seven remaining places at the 2027 finals in Egypt, which will also serve as Africa’s pathway to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

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Egypt has already qualified automatically as hosts.

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