Bolatito Mercy
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been placed in Group L for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following Tuesday’s draw in Cairo. The three-time African champions will face Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, and co-host Tanzania in what looks like a familiar but tricky pool. The draw sets the stage for another competitive campaign as Nigeria chase a place at the tournament set for Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
The group comes with a twist because Tanzania, as one of the co-hosts, will automatically qualify regardless of where they finish. That means only one additional team from Group L will secure a ticket to the finals. For the Super Eagles, it removes the usual safety net of finishing second, making topping the group the clear path to avoid any late drama. It also adds extra pressure on every match, since dropping points against the other two sides could leave Nigeria relying on results elsewhere.
Nigeria’s opponents are not strangers. The Eagles met Guinea-Bissau in both the 2021 and 2023 AFCON group stages, and again during the qualifiers for the 2023 edition. Guinea-Bissau famously stunned Nigeria 1-0 in Abuja during that campaign before Nigeria won the return leg. Madagascar handed Nigeria a 2-0 defeat in the 2019 group stage, while Tanzania were Nigeria’s opening opponents at the 2025 AFCON, a game the Eagles edged 2-1 thanks to Ademola Lookman’s winner.
The qualification format will see 48 teams split into 12 groups, with 24 nations making it to the finals. Across the other 11 groups, the top two teams will qualify automatically. But in Groups D, H, and L, where hosts Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania sit, only one spot is available since the hosts are already guaranteed. The qualifiers will run across FIFA windows from September 21 to October 6, 2026, with further rounds in November 2026 and March 2027.
Nigeria enter the campaign after finishing third at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco and will be led by Eric Chelle as they look to bounce back from missing out on the 2026 World Cup. On paper, the Super Eagles remain favorites to win the group given their pedigree and squad depth, but recent history shows that none of these opponents can be taken lightly. Madagascar reached the quarter-finals on their AFCON debut in 2019, while Guinea-Bissau have become regulars and are known for their disciplined, physical style.
The draw keeps Nigeria away from heavyweights like Ghana and Senegal, but the absence of a second qualification slot makes Group L one of the more delicate pools. For fans, it revives familiar rivalries and guarantees competitive games across East and West Africa. If the Eagles can assert their dominance early, they should be on track for a fifth consecutive AFCON appearance and another shot at reclaiming the title they last won in 2013.
