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Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been drawn against Madagascar, Tanzania, and Guinea-Bissau in Group L of the qualification series for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The draw ceremony was held on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt, with former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong participating as one of the draw assistants during the event. 
The qualification campaign will feature 48 African nations divided into 12 groups, with 24 teams expected to qualify for the tournament proper. However, Nigeria’s group presents a unique situation because Tanzania is one of the co-hosts of the 2027 AFCON alongside Kenya and Uganda. As a result, Tanzania automatically qualifies for the tournament regardless of its position in the group, meaning only one additional team from Group L will secure a place at the finals. 
The Super Eagles were seeded in Pot 1 during the draw and are considered favourites to top the group based on recent performances and FIFA rankings. Nigeria previously defeated Tanzania 2-1 during the 2025 AFCON tournament and also recorded a memorable 2-0 victory over Madagascar at the 2019 edition after suffering a surprise defeat to the same side in the group stage years earlier. Guinea-Bissau has also become a familiar opponent for Nigeria in recent AFCON qualification campaigns, setting up another competitive series of encounters for the three-time African champions. 
According to the Confederation of African Football, the qualifiers will be played across three FIFA international windows. The opening two matchdays are scheduled for September to October 2026, while the remaining rounds will continue through November 2026 and March 2027 before the final list of qualified teams is confirmed. The 2027 tournament, branded “AFCON Pamoja,” will mark the first time East African nations Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda jointly host Africa’s biggest football competition. 
