Is Afcon 2027 qualifiers unfair to teams in drawn in same groups as co-host nations?

The 2027 Africa Cup of Nations Pamoja qualifiers begin in September with co-hosts Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda part of the process despite being already qualified.

Like the norm has been, even host nations participate in the qualifiers despite having already secured automatic qualification for the tournament by virtue of being co-hosts.

Kenya is drawn in Group D alongside 1996 winners South Africa, Guinea and Eritrea, Uganda are in Group H with 2004 champions Tunisia, Libya and Botswana while Tanzania are placed in Group L alongside Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.

As a result, all nations in groups that have co-hosts are effectively competing for one qualifying spot from those respective groups.

Guinea head coach Paulo Duarte has already expressed frustration about the issues referring to it as unfair for teams drawn in the same qualifying groups as the co-host nations and that CAF should consider revising the system.

Could Duarte and his allies be right?

The well-travelled Duarte has a point especially when it comes to Pamoja 2027 since all co-hosts are nations that are not regularly present at the continent global showpiece.

Besides, the fact that a host nation is already qualified regardless of which position they earn in the qualifiers also leaves a lot of question marks and will hurt in case one, or all of them finish in positions below second.

In comparison to groups that don’t have co-hosts, this sounds unfair as the positions to compete for are two – very fair.

AFCON 2027 Qualifiers Dates

Matchdays 1 & 2: September 21 to October 6, 2026

Matchdays 3 & 4: November 9 to 17, 2026

Matchdays 5 & 6: March 22 to 30, 2026

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