# 2018 African Nations Championship qualification

The 2018 African Nations Championship qualification was a men's football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2018 African Nations Championship. Only national team players who were playing in their country's own domestic league were eligible to compete in the tournament.
A total of sixteen teams qualified to play in the final tournament.

## Teams

A total of 48 (out of 54) CAF member national teams entered the qualifying rounds, split into zones according to their regional affiliations.
| Zone | Spots | Teams entering qualification | Did not enter |
| North Zone (UNAF) | 2 spots | Algeria  Egypt  Libya  Morocco (hosts) | Tunisia |
| West A Zone (WAFU-UFOA A) | 2 spots | Gambia  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Liberia  Mali  Mauritania  Senegal  Sierra Leone | Cape Verde |
| West B Zone (WAFU-UFOA B) | 3 spots | Benin  Burkina Faso  Ghana  Ivory Coast  Niger  Nigeria  Togo | |
| Central Zone (UNIFFAC) | 3 spots | Cameroon  Congo  DR Congo  Equatorial Guinea  Gabon  São Tomé and Príncipe | Chad (disqualified)  Central African Republic (disqualified) |
| Central-East Zone (CECAFA) | 3 spots | Burundi  Djibouti  Ethiopia  Rwanda  Somalia  South Sudan  Sudan  Tanzania  Uganda | Eritrea  Kenya (original hosts) |
| South Zone (COSAFA) | 3 spots | Angola  Botswana  Comoros  Lesotho  Madagascar  Malawi  Mauritius  Mozambique  Namibia  Seychelles  South Africa  Swaziland  Zambia  Zimbabwe | |
| Total | 16 spots | 48 teams | |

### Notes

* Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
* Central African Republic were excluded by the CAF from participating because of their withdrawal against DR Congo in the 2016 African Nations Championship qualification.
* Chad withdrew on 27 March 2016, but however, on 24 May 2016, Chad announced that they would not be able to qualify for CHAN 2018, and São Tomé and Príncipe officially entered the qualification, along with Equatorial Guinea.
* Egypt were expected to withdraw from the CHAN 2018, but however, on 4 June 2016, it was announced that Egypt would participate in the CHAN 2018 qualification.
* On 12 March 2017, the Football Association of Malawi announced their senior national football team would withdraw from the competition due to the lack of funding. However, they later announced its reversal of this decision and would continue to compete.
* Kenya were the original hosts and would have qualified automatically. However, on 23 September 2017, the CAF decided to withdraw their hosting rights due to a lack of progress with preparations.
* Morocco were named as the new hosts on 14 October 2017. Since they had already qualified in the North Zone, their spot in the final tournament was re-allocated to Egypt, which lost to Morocco in the North Zone final qualifying round. However, Egypt declined to participate citing a "congested domestic calendar". As a result, the spot was reverted to Central-East Zone (as originally three teams would participate including Kenya as original hosts), and would go to the winner of a play-off between Ethiopia and Rwanda, the two teams which lost in the Central-East Zone final qualifying round.

## Schedule

The draw was held on 3 February 2017 at Libreville, Gabon.
The schedule of the qualifying rounds was as follows.
| Zone / Round | Zone / Round | Zone / Round | Matchday | Date |
| North Zone Central Zone | West A Zone West B Zone | Central-East Zone South Zone | Matchday | Date |
| — | — | First round | First leg | 20–22 April 2017 |
| — | — | First round | Second leg | 28–30 April 2017 |
| — | First round | Second round | First leg | 14–16 July 2017 |
| — | First round | Second round | Second leg | 21–23 July 2017 |
| First round | Second round | Third round | First leg | 11–13 August 2017 |
| First round | Second round | Third round | Second leg | 18–20 August 2017 |

## Format

Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still level, the penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winner (no extra time would be played).

## North Zone

* All four teams (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco) entered the first round.

### First round

Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Egypt | 2–4 | Morocco | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Algeria | 2–3 | Libya | 1–2 | 1–1 |
Morocco won 4–2 on aggregate.
Libya won 3–2 on aggregate.

## West A Zone

* All eight teams (Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Mauritania, Senegal, Sierra Leone) entered the first round.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Sierra Leone | 2–4 | Senegal | 1–1 | 1–3 |
| Guinea-Bissau | 1–10 | Guinea | 1–3 | 0–7 |
| Liberia | 1–2 | Mauritania | 0–2 | 1–0 |
| Gambia | 0–4 | Mali | 0–0 | 0–4 |
Senegal won 4–2 on aggregate.
Guinea won 10–1 on aggregate.
Mauritania won 2–1 on aggregate.
Mali won 4–0 on aggregate.

### Second round

Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Senegal | 3–6 | Guinea | 3–1 | 0–5 |
| Mauritania | 3–2 | Mali | 2–2 | 1–0 |
Guinea won 6–3 on aggregate.
Mauritania won 3–2 on aggregate.

## West B Zone

* Two teams (Benin, Togo) entered the first round.
* Five teams (Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Niger, Nigeria) entered the second round.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Togo | 2–2 (7–8 p) | Benin | 1–1 | 1–1 |
2–2 on aggregate. Benin won 8–7 on penalties.

### Second round

Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Benin | 1–2 | Nigeria | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Niger | 2–2 (a) | Ivory Coast | 2–1 | 0–1 |
| Burkina Faso | 4–3 | Ghana | 2–2 | 2–1 |
Nigeria won 2–1 on aggregate.
2–2 on aggregate. Ivory Coast won on away goals.
Burkina Faso won 4–3 on aggregate.

## Central Zone

* All six teams (Cameroon, Congo, DR Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, São Tomé and Príncipe) entered the first round.

### First round

Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Equatorial Guinea | w/o | Gabon | — | — |
| Congo | 1–1 (a) | DR Congo | 0–0 | 1–1 |
| São Tomé and Príncipe | 0–4 | Cameroon | 0–2 | 0–2 |
Equatorial Guinea won on walkover after Gabon withdrew prior to the first leg.
1–1 on aggregate. Congo won on away goals.
Cameroon won 4–0 on aggregate.

## Central-East Zone

* Two teams (Somalia, South Sudan) entered the first round.
* Seven teams (Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda) entered the second round.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Somalia | 1–4 | South Sudan | 1–2 | 0–2 |
South Sudan won 4–1 on aggregate.

### Second round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| South Sudan | 1–5 | Uganda | 0–0 | 1–5 |
| Tanzania | 1–1 (a) | Rwanda | 1–1 | 0–0 |
| Djibouti | w/o | Ethiopia | 1–5 | — |
| Burundi | 0–1 | Sudan | 0–0 | 0–1 |
Uganda won 5–1 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate. Rwanda won on away goals.
Ethiopia won on walkover after Djibouti withdrew prior to the second leg.
Sudan won 1–0 on aggregate.

### Third round

Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Uganda | 3–2 | Rwanda | 3–0 | 0–2 |
| Ethiopia | 1–2 | Sudan | 1–1 | 0–1 |
Uganda won 3–2 on aggregate.
Sudan won 2–1 on aggregate.

### Play-off

Winner qualifies for 2018 African Nations Championship (replacing the original hosts Kenya which would have qualified automatically).
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Ethiopia | 2–3 | Rwanda | 2–3 | 0–0 |
Rwanda won 3–2 on aggregate.

## South Zone

* Four teams (Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Seychelles) entered the first round.
* Ten teams (Angola, Botswana, Comoros, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe) entered the second round.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Madagascar | 2–0 | Malawi | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Mauritius | 3–2 | Seychelles | 2–1 | 1–1 |
Madagascar won 2–0 on aggregate.
Mauritius won 3–2 on aggregate.

### Second round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Madagascar | 4–2 | Mozambique | 2–2 | 2–0 |
| Mauritius | 2–4 | Angola | 0–1 | 2–3 |
| Comoros | 2–1 | Lesotho | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Namibia | 1–1 (5–4 p) | Zimbabwe | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Botswana | 0–3 | South Africa | 0–2 | 0–1 |
| Swaziland | 0–7 | Zambia | 0–4 | 0–3 |
Madagascar won 4–2 on aggregate.
Angola won 4–2 on aggregate.
Comoros win 2–1 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate. Namibia won 5–4 on penalties.
South Africa won 3–0 on aggregate.
Zambia won 7–0 on aggregate.

### Third round

Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Madagascar | 0–1 | Angola | 0–0 | 0–1 |
| Comoros | 2–3 | Namibia | 2–1 | 0–2 |
| South Africa | 2–4 | Zambia | 2–2 | 0–2 |
Angola won 1–0 on aggregate.
Namibia won 3–2 on aggregate.
Zambia won 4–2 on aggregate.

## Qualified teams

The following 16 teams qualified for the final tournament.
| Team | Qualifying zone | Qualified on | Previous appearances in African Nations Championship |
| Morocco (hosts) | North Zone | 18 August 2017 | 2 (2014, 2016) |
| Libya | North Zone | 18 August 2017 | 2 (2009, 2014) |
| Guinea | West A Zone | 23 August 2017 | 1 (2016) |
| Mauritania | West A Zone | 19 August 2017 | 1 (2014) |
| Nigeria | West B Zone | 19 August 2017 | 2 (2014, 2016) |
| Ivory Coast | West B Zone | 19 August 2017 | 3 (2009, 2011, 2016) |
| Burkina Faso | West B Zone | 20 August 2017 | 1 (2014) |
| Equatorial Guinea | Central Zone | 9 August 2017 | 0 (debut) |
| Congo | Central Zone | 19 August 2017 | 1 (2014) |
| Cameroon | Central Zone | 19 August 2017 | 2 (2011, 2016) |
| Uganda | Central-East Zone | 19 August 2017 | 3 (2011, 2014, 2016) |
| Sudan | Central-East Zone | 19 August 2017 | 1 (2011) |
| Rwanda | Central-East Zone | 12 November 2017 | 2 (2011, 2016) |
| Angola | South Zone | 19 August 2017 | 2 (2011, 2016) |
| Namibia | South Zone | 20 August 2017 | 0 (debut) |
| Zambia | South Zone | 19 August 2017 | 2 (2009, 2016) |
    $^1$ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

## Goalscorers
### 8 goals

* Sékou Amadou Camara

### 4 goals

* Njiva Rakotoharimalala
* Getaneh Kebede
* Paul Mucureezi
* Justin Shonga

### 3 goals

* Ibrahima Koné
* Amadou Dia N'Diaye

### 2 goals

* Job
* Mohamed Sydney Sylla
* Mohamed Sorel Camara
* Mohamed N'Diaye
* Ibrahima Sory Sankhon
* Muaid Ellafi
* Muna Katupose
* Hendrik Somaeb
* Ryan Moon
* Gift Motupa
* Leon Uso Khamis
* James Moga
* Seif Teiri
* Koidjo Sewonou
* Muzamiru Mutyaba
* Derrick Nsibambi
* Clatous Chama
* Brian Mwila

### 1 goal

* Sofiane Bendebka
* Oussama Darfalou
* Geraldo
* Dani Massunguna
* Vá
* Waris Aboki
* Marcelin Koukpo
* Mama Seibou
* Herman Nikiema
* Ilasse Sawadogo
* Raphaël Messi Bouli
* Raymond Fosso
* Armel Lionel Ngondji
* Franck Pangop
* Raidou Boina Bacar
* Chadhuli Mradabi
* Ibroihim Youssouf
* Mohamed Youssouf
* Jaures Ngombe
* Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele
* Ahmed El Sheikh
* Aschalew Girma
* Mulualem Mesfin
* Abdurahman Mubarak
* Abubakher Sanni
* Sadick Adams
* Felix Addo
* Gideon Waja
* Seydouba Bissiri Camara
* Mamady Diawara
* Juca
* Fabius Dosso
* Banfa Sylla
* Raboama Koloti
* Christopher Jackson
* Bela
* Morelin Raveloarisona
* Aboubacar Diarra
* Mandala Konté
* Gouné Niangadou
* Boubacar Bagili
* Mohamed Yaly Dellahi
* Abdoulaye Sileye Gaye
* Karamogho Moussa
* Moussa Samba
* Marco Dorza
* Jonathan Édouard
* Emmanuel Vincent Jean
* Kevin Perticots
* Francis Rasolofonirina
* Badr Banoun
* Badr Boulahroud
* Jawad El Yamiq
* Abderrahim Makran
* Maninho
* Salomão
* Idrissa Halidou Garba
* Imrana Seyni
* Rabiu Ali
* Kingsley Eduwo
* Abeddy Biramahire
* Muhadjiri Hakizimana
* Thierry Manzi
* Yannick Mukunzi
* Dominique Savio Nshuti
* Eric Rutanga
* Sidy Bara Diop
* Daouda Guèye Diémé
* Assane Mbodj
* Alassane Ndao
* Leeroy Corallie
* Yannick Manoo
* Kemson Fofanah
* Nathaniel Fullah
* Abas Amin Mohamed
* Elsamani Saadeldin
* Mario Booysen
* Duku Wurube
* Himid Mao
* Fackson Kapumbu
* Martin Phiri
* Simon Silwimba
* Prince Dube

### Own goals

* Chamseddine Rahmani (against Libya)
* Hamza Semmoumy (against Egypt)