Former Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong believes that results on the road will decide the race to reach the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Troost-Ekong spoke after Tuesday’s draw ceremony in Cairo. He served as one of four assistants for the event organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The defender said teams that can grind out wins away from home will put themselves in the strongest position to qualify for the finals.
“Playing away from home is always difficult because you encounter different pitches, environments and conditions throughout the qualifiers,” Troost-Ekong told CAFonline.
“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.”
The qualifying campaign begins during the FIFA international window from 21 September to 6 October 2026. The first two matchdays will be played then.
Matchdays three and four follow between 9 and 17 November 2026.
The decisive final round of fixtures is scheduled for 22 to 30 March 2027. The full list of qualified teams is expected to be confirmed at that time.
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