Rabat, Morocco — 2026-01-13 Confederation of African Football to Conduct CAN 2027 Preliminary Round Draw in Rabat.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is set to host the draw for the preliminary round of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in Rabat, Morocco, on January 13, 2026. This draw marks the official beginning of the qualifying process for the CAN 2027 final phase, which will be co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
The preliminary round is reserved for the twelve nations least ranked in the FIFA standings, with a total of 12 national selections participating.
The event will be broadcast live on CAF TV starting at 13:00 local time in Rabat, which is 12:00 GMT and 14:00 Cairo time.
According to regional officials, the draw is a significant event as it determines the paths for participating teams to advance to the next stage of the competition.
The Africa Cup of Nations, held every two years, is a major international men’s football competition featuring national teams from the member associations of the CAF.
The draw will be conducted under a format that involves two chapeaux, with the six better — ranked teams in Chapeau 1 and the six less-ranked teams in Chapeau 2.
The matches will be played in an away — and-home format, with the first match taking place on the field of the less-ranked team.
The preliminary round is an initial stage of the competition, where teams must qualify to reach the group stage.
The draw for these rounds is a critical moment as it determines the paths for participating teams to advance to the next stage of the competition. Further details regarding the participating teams and the structure of the preliminary round are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Source: Megasportsmedia.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
