AFCON 2027 Qualifiers: Chipolopolo Drawn Against Algeria, Togo, and Burundi in Group I
Zambia’s road to the historic TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) PAMOJA 2027 in East Africa has been officially mapped out. The Chipolopolo Boys have been drawn into Group I alongside North African heavyweights Algeria, West Africa’s Togo, and East African side Burundi following Tuesday’s star-studded draw in Cairo.
With the final tournament returning to East Africa for the first time in 51 years, co-hosted across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July 2027, Zambia faces a clear objective: secure a top-two finish in Group I to book a ticket to the finals.
Group I Breakdown: The Challenge for Chipolopolo
- Algeria 🇩🇿:The standout fixture of the group sees Zambia renew their fierce rivalry with the 2019 champions.Chipolopolo will be aiming for redemption after high-scoring battles in past qualification campaigns, including a memorable 3-3 draw in 2021.
- Togo 🇹🇬: A test against the West Africans, with whom Zambia shares a rich history dating back to the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns.
- Burundi 🇧🇮:The East African side advanced through the preliminary round and will meet Zambia in AFCON qualifying action for the very first time.
Qualification Rule: Unlike groups containing co-host nations (where only one team advances), the top two teams in Group I will qualify directly for the 24-team showpiece in 2027.
Qualification Matchday Schedule
The six-match campaign will be played across three FIFA international windows starting in late 2026:
| Phase | Window Dates | Matchdays |
| Opener | 21 September – 6 October 2026 | Matchdays 1 & 2 |
| Mid-Campaign | 9 – 17 November 2026 | Matchdays 3 & 4 |
| Finale | 22 – 30 March 2027 | Matchdays 5 & 6 |
Highlights Across Africa
The draw ceremony in Cairo, assisted by African icons Max-Alain Gradel, William Troost-Ekong, Essam El Hadary, and Trésor Mputu, produced several mouth-watering matchups:
- Group D Drama:Former Bafana Bafana star player Benni McCarthy leads Kenya as head coach against his home country South Africa.
- COSAFA Connections:Regional neighbors Angola, Malawi, and South Sudan line up alongside Egypt in Group B, while Zimbabwe battles DR Congo in Group E.
- Group of Death Contender:Group C features a West African clash between 2023 champions Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, and Somalia.
Full AFCON 2027 Qualifier Draw
- Group A:Morocco, Gabon, Niger, Lesotho
- Group B:Egypt, Angola, Malawi, South Sudan
- Group C:Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Somalia
- Group D:South Africa, Guinea, Kenya, Eritrea
- Group E:DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe
- Group F: Burkina Faso, Benin, Mauritania, Central African Republic
- Group G: Cameroon, Comoros, Namibia, Congo
- Group H: Tunisia, Uganda, Libya, Botswana
- Group I: Algeria, Zambia, Togo, Burundi
- Group J: Senegal, Mozambique, Sudan, Ethiopia
- Group K: Mali, Cape Verde, Rwanda, Liberia
- Group L: Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau
