CAN U23 2027: The full list of the 43 participating nations

CAF prepares for the draw of the qualifiers for the tournament scheduled in Egypt in November 2027

Africa Today at 07:38

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CAN U23 2027: The full list of the 43 participating nations

Forty-three African national teams are set to battle for a spot at the CAN U23 2027, a tournament that also serves as a qualifier for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Just as the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations wrapped up with Cameroon claiming their maiden title, the Confederation of African Football is already shifting its focus to a new continental challenge—this time on the men's side. The 43 nations that will compete in the CAN U23 2027 qualifiers are now confirmed. The final tournament will be held in Egypt in November 2027, though CAF has yet to announce the exact dates for the draw, qualifiers, and the main event.

The list of the 43 participating nations

Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, Congo, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

These national teams will aim to reach the final tournament and stay in contention for a coveted spot at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. The detailed format of the qualifiers and the structure of the different rounds are still to be confirmed by CAF.

FIFA has already allocated two spots to Africa for the men's Olympic football tournament at Los Angeles 2028. However, CAF will need to clarify the exact process for awarding these tickets through the CAN U23 competition.

The Morocco side are the reigning champions. In 2023, the Atlas Cubs clinched their first crown by overcoming Egypt in the final (2-1 after extra time). No single nation sits atop the all-time winners list, as each of the four editions has produced a different champion: Gabon in 2011, Nigeria in 2015, Egypt in 2019, and Morocco in 2023. These four teams thus share the distinction of being the tournament's most successful, with one title apiece.