Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has said the race to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations will be highly competitive, stressing that teams’ performances away from home could ultimately determine who earns a spot at the tournament.
Troost-Ekong spoke after the tournament draw held in Cairo on Tuesday afternoon, where he played a key role as one of the four draw assistants.
Troost-Ekong Tasks Teams On Away Form
The defender stated nations capable of consistently picking up results on the road will place themselves in a strong position to qualify for the competition.
“Playing away from home is always difficult because you encounter different pitches, environments and conditions throughout the qualifiers,” Troost-Ekong was quoted by CAFonline.
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“Winning away from home is very important if you want to enhance your qualification chances, but consistency throughout the campaign is equally crucial.
“Teams that find ways to win away from home will give themselves a great chance. There are some very tough groups, but there is also a lot of excitement around these qualifiers. I can’t wait for the games and the tournament itself.”
Road To AFCON 2027
The opening two AFCON 2027 qualifiers matchdays are scheduled for the FIFA window from 21 September to 6 October 2026, before matchdays three and four take place from 9 to 17 November 2026.
The final two rounds of matches will be played from 22 to 30 March 2027, when the line-up for the tournament is expected to be completed.
The AFCON 2027 finals will be jointly hosted by East African neighbours Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
By Adeboye Amosu
