By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Kenya, May 19, 2026 - The road to the PAMOJA 2027 Africa Cup of Nations officially began on Tuesday after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) conducted the qualification draw in Cairo, Egypt. Kenya’s national team, the Harambee Stars, were placed in a challenging Group D alongside South Africa, Guinea, and Eritrea.
Although Kenya has already secured automatic qualification as one of the co-hosts of the 2027 tournament together with Uganda and Tanzania, the Harambee Stars will still participate in the qualifiers. The campaign is expected to serve as a major preparation platform ahead of the historic tournament on home soil.
The 2027 AFCON, branded as “PAMOJA 2027,” will mark a historic milestone for East African football. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will jointly host the continent’s biggest football tournament from June 19 to July 17, 2027. The word “Pamoja,” a Swahili term meaning “together,” symbolizes regional unity and cooperation among the three East African nations.
This will be the first AFCON tournament ever hosted by three countries and the first time in decades that the CECAFA region stages the competition. For Kenya, it represents an opportunity to showcase football growth, infrastructure development, and regional sporting ambition.
Group D Teams and FIFA Rankings
- South Africa - 60
- Guinea - 80
- Kenya - 111
- Eritrea - 184
The rankings underline the difficult challenge awaiting Harambee Stars. South Africa enter the group as clear favorites on paper, while Guinea remain one of West Africa’s consistently competitive football nations. Eritrea may be ranked lowest, but their recent qualification progress proves they cannot be underestimated.
Because Kenya are tournament hosts, they are already guaranteed a place at AFCON 2027 regardless of results during the qualifiers. However, CAF rules still require co-hosts to participate in the qualification campaign.
The format for groups containing host nations is slightly different:
- If Kenya finishes top of the group, the second-placed team qualifies.
- If Kenya finishes outside first place, only the group winner qualifies automatically.
This structure means every Group D fixture will still carry significant competitive importance for South Africa, Guinea, and Eritrea.
One of the biggest storylines from the draw is Harambee Stars head coach Benni McCarthy coming up against his home country, South Africa. The former Bafana Bafana striker remains one of South Africa’s greatest football legends and their all-time leading scorer.
The matchup adds emotional significance to the group and presents McCarthy with an opportunity to test Kenya against one of Africa’s most tactically organized teams. Since taking charge of Harambee Stars, McCarthy has emphasized discipline, attacking structure, and player mentality as Kenya aims to build a stronger squad ahead of hosting AFCON.
South Africa will likely enter the qualifiers as Group D favorites. Bafana Bafana have experienced a resurgence in recent years, combining experienced international players with a growing generation of talent from the South African Premier Division.
Their superior FIFA ranking reflects improved consistency and tactical maturity. Kenya’s clashes against South Africa are expected to provide a valuable benchmark for Harambee Stars as they measure their readiness for continental competition.
Guinea remain one of Africa’s dangerous dark horses. Known for producing technically gifted and physically strong players, Guinea often compete aggressively in AFCON qualification campaigns.
More from Kenya
For Kenya, matches against Guinea could become decisive in determining whether the Harambee Stars can compete consistently against higher-ranked African opposition. Guinea’s style of play may particularly test Kenya’s defensive organization and midfield control.
Eritrea may be the lowest-ranked side in the group, but their recent progress should not be ignored. Eritrea advanced through the preliminary round after defeating Eswatini 4-1 on aggregate to secure a place in the group stage qualifiers.
For Kenya, matches against Eritrea could become must-win fixtures if the team wants to build confidence and momentum heading into the tournament.
Even with automatic qualification secured, these matches could shape the future of Kenyan football in several ways:
Kenya needs competitive fixtures against strong African nations to prepare for AFCON 2027. The qualifiers offer real tournament-level intensity that friendly matches cannot replicate.
The campaign will reveal whether McCarthy’s tactical philosophy is beginning to take shape and whether the squad can compete consistently at higher levels.
Kenya has a mixture of local league talent and foreign-based players. The qualifiers will help build cohesion before the home tournament.
Hosting AFCON places enormous expectations on Harambee Stars. Positive performances during qualification could reignite belief among Kenyan football supporters.
CAF confirmed that the qualifiers will be played across three international windows:
- Matchdays 1 and 2: September–October 2026
- Matchdays 3 and 4: November 2026
- Matchdays 5 and 6: March 2027.
These fixtures will provide Kenya with crucial preparation time before the AFCON finals begin in June 2027.
Can Harambee Stars Compete?
Group D presents Kenya with both danger and opportunity. On paper, South Africa and Guinea possess stronger football pedigrees and higher FIFA rankings. However, Kenya’s recent football improvements, combined with the motivation of hosting AFCON, could inspire stronger performances.
The qualifiers will not only determine who joins Kenya from Group D at AFCON 2027, but they will also show whether Harambee Stars are truly ready to compete on the biggest stage African football has to offer.