2 days ago
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FEMI FABUNMI
The qualification format for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations has sparked questions over the status of Tanzania in Group L, with some fans wondering whether the co-host’s matches will count despite the country already having a guaranteed place at the tournament.
The answer is yes. Tanzania’s results will count in the Group L standings, but only one team apart from the hosts will qualify from the group.
The general rule for the 2027 AFCON qualifiers is that the top two teams in each group will qualify for the tournament. However, the rule is different in groups containing one of the three co-hosts, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the three host nations have automatically qualified for the finals. Consequently, only the highest-ranked team apart from the host will qualify from Groups D, H and L.
Nigeria are in Group L alongside Tanzania, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
All four teams will play six home and away fixtures during the qualifying campaign. Tanzania’s automatic qualification does not remove the country from the group or make its matches meaningless. Its results remain part of the standings and can have a direct impact on the race among the other three teams.
This became clear after the opening round of matches.
Guinea-Bissau defeated Tanzania 2-0 in Dar es Salaam, while Nigeria came from behind to beat Madagascar 2-1 in Uyo. The results left Guinea-Bissau and Nigeria with three points each, while Tanzania and Madagascar started without a point.
The significance of Tanzania’s matches is therefore straightforward.
If Tanzania finish first in Group L, the team that finishes second among the three non-host nations will qualify alongside them.
If Tanzania finish second, the highest-ranked non-host team, which could be the team in first place, will take the available qualification spot.
Even if Tanzania finish third or fourth, the highest-ranked non-host team will still be the one to qualify.
In other words, there is only one qualification ticket available to Nigeria, Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau.
CAF has also emphasised that Tanzania are already guaranteed their place regardless of their results, while the highest-placed team in the same group outside the host country will qualify.
This means every point remains important in Group L. A win, draw or defeat against Tanzania could ultimately determine which of Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar finishes as the highest-ranked non-host team.
For the Super Eagles, their fixtures against Tanzania therefore remain crucial, even though their East African opponents already have their ticket to the 2027 AFCON finals.
The 2027 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda from June 19 to July 17, 2027.
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