CAF Africa Cup of Nations - Morocco 2025 - Final - Senegal v Morocco - Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, Morocco - January 18, 2026 Senegal's Sadio Mane lifts the trophy with teammates as they celebrate after winning the Africa Cup of Nations REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh/File Photo

A new cycle of Africa Cup of Nations competition gets under way in earnest on Thursday as group qualifiers for the 2027 finals kick off, with the winners of the last ​ edition still in dispute.

A total of 48 countries are divided into 12 groups and begin ‌ a six-round qualifying process running to March next year, with the top two in nine of the groups advancing to the finals.

The tournament is being co-hosted by Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, who are also competing in the qualifiers. In the groups in ​ which they play, only one other side will go through to the 24-team tournament, which will ​ take place from June 19-July 17.

Senegal have appealed against the Confederation of African Football's decision and it will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on October 8.

Lesotho are one of 12 countries forced to play home games at a neutral venue because they do not have a stadium that Africa's governing body CAF deems adequate for international competition.

Senegal have switched their home fixture against Mozambique because of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games and start their Group J campaign in Maputo ​ on Friday, with Patrick ​ Vieira their new coach after ⁠ a disappointing World Cup. Sadio Mane is one of several previously key players not in his first squad.

New coach Moin Chaabani debuts against Uganda in Group H on Thursday as Tunisia look to extend their record number of successive finals ⁠ appearances to ​ 18.

The opening round of games features a heavyweight derby between Ivory ​ Coast and Ghana in Group C on Thursday, while South Africa's clash with Guinea in Johannesburg on Saturday is also vital for ​ both countries even at the start of the campaign.