Black Stars Await AFCON Qualifiers Draw as Redemption Mission Begins
The Black Stars of Ghana will discover their opponents for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers when the official draw is held on Tuesday, May 19, in Cairo.
The upcoming draw marks the beginning of Ghana’s bid to return to Africa’s biggest football stage after missing out on qualification for the 2025 tournament in Morocco, marking the Black Stars’ first absence from the competition in 20 years.
A total of 48 nations will be placed into 12 groups of four teams, with the top two sides from each group advancing to the finals. In groups containing one of the tournament’s co-host nations, only one additional team will qualify.
For Ghana, the qualifying campaign carries huge significance following a disappointing run during the 2025 qualifiers, where the Black Stars failed to win a single match.
That difficult period sparked widespread criticism and forced a rebuilding process within the national team setup as the country seeks a return to the top level of African football.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The first round of qualifying matches is expected to begin in September 2026, with Tuesday’s draw set to shape the Black Stars’ route back to the continental tournament.
