Africa Cup of Nations 2027: Algeria in Pot 2, a Treacherous Draw Looms

Algeria, currently ranked 28th in the FIFA standings and 4th among African nations, is not expected to be among the six seeded teams for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations draw, to be held in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. A position in Pot 2 that exposes the Greens to a tough group from the outset.

The first pot is already largely determined: the three host nations (Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda) are automatically placed there, while Morocco, Senegal — the finalists of the last edition — and Egypt complete the lineup. Result: Brahim Hemdani’s Algeria could find itself in the same group as one of these three major African nations.

In Pot 2, the Greens would rub shoulders with Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Cameroon and Mali of Lassine Sinayoko — opponents they would avoid in the draw. However, Pots 3 and 4 hold their own pitfalls: Tunisia, Burkina Faso or Angola on one side, Equatorial Guinea on the other, a nation that eliminated Algeria in the first round of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations when the Fennecs were defending African champions.

Before thinking about the draw, Algeria must first secure qualification. The squad, led notably by Himad Abdelli and Amine Gouiri, faces a double-header against Togo during this November international window — November 14 in Tizi Ouzou, then November 17 in Lomé — after a mixed record: a win over Zambia (3-1) and a draw in Burundi (2-2). The outcome of the qualifiers is expected in March, followed shortly by the group-stage draw.

Virtual pots for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations draw

Pot 1: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Morocco, Senegal, Egypt

Pot 2: Algeria, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Cameroon, Mali

Pot 3: South Africa, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Angola, Gabon, Benin

Pot 4: Zambia, Mozambique, Equatorial Guinea, Comoros, Gambia, Rwanda