# 2020 African Nations Championship qualification

The 2020 African Nations Championship qualification was a men's football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2020 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 16 teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including Cameroon which qualified automatically as hosts.

## Teams

Originally, a total of 47 (out of 54) CAF member national teams entered the qualifying rounds, split into zones according to their regional affiliations. The draw for the qualifying rounds was held on 30 January 2019 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. A re-draw of the Central Eastern Zone (CECAFA) was announced on 3 July 2019, after Ethiopia (original hosts) and Djibouti (originally banned) were included. A re-draw of the Central Zone (UNIFFAC) was also made, after Cameroon (new hosts) were excluded from qualifying. Therefore, a total of 48 (out of 53) teams CAF member national teams entered the qualifying rounds after the re-draws.
| Zone | Spots (total 16) | Teams entering qualification | Did not enter |
| Northern Zone (UNAF) | 2 spots | Algeria  Libya  Morocco  Tunisia | Egypt |
| Western Zone A (WAFU-UFOA A) | 2 spots | Cape Verde  Guinea  Guinea-Bissau  Liberia  Mali  Mauritania  Senegal | Gambia  Sierra Leone (suspended by FIFA) |
| Western Zone B (WAFU-UFOA B) | 3 spots | Benin  Burkina Faso  Ghana  Ivory Coast  Niger  Nigeria  Togo | |
| Central Zone (UNIFFAC) | 2 spots + Cameroon (hosts) | Central African Republic  Chad  Congo  DR Congo  Equatorial Guinea  São Tomé and Príncipe (W) | Gabon (banned) |
| Central Eastern Zone (CECAFA) | 3 spots | Burundi  Djibouti (originally banned)  Ethiopia (original hosts)  Kenya  Rwanda  Somalia  South Sudan  Sudan  Tanzania  Uganda | Eritrea |
| Southern Zone (COSAFA) | 3 spots | Angola  Botswana  Comoros  Eswatini  Lesotho  Madagascar  Malawi  Mauritius  Mozambique  Namibia  Seychelles  South Africa  Zambia  Zimbabwe | |

### Notes

* Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
* Teams in italics received a bye to the second round in the qualifying draw.
* (W): Withdrew after draw

## 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).

## Schedule

The schedule of the qualifying rounds was as follows.
| Zone / Round | Zone / Round | Zone / Round | Matchday | Date |
| Northern Zone | Western Zone A Western Zone B Central Zone Central Eastern Zone | Southern Zone | Matchday | Date |
| — | — | First round | First leg | 19–21 April 2019 |
| — | — | First round | Second leg | 10–12 May 2019 |
| — | First round | Second round | First leg | 26–28 July 2019 |
| — | First round | Second round | Second leg | 2–4 August 2019 |
| First round | Second round | Third round | First leg | 20–22 September 2019 |
| First round | Second round | Third round | Second leg | 18–20 October 2019 |

## Northern Zone

Winners qualified for 2020 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Algeria | 0–3 | Morocco | 0–0 | 0–3 |
| Tunisia | 3–1 | Libya | 1–0 | 2–1 |
Morocco won 3–0 on aggregate.
Tunisia won 3–1 on aggregate, but withdrew in January 2020. As a result, Libya qualified.

## Western Zone A
### First round

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

### Second round

Winners qualified for 2020 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Mauritania | 0–2 | Mali | 0–0 | 0–2 |
| Senegal | 1–1 (1–3 p) | Guinea | 1–0 | 0–1 |
Mali won 2–0 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate. Guinea won 3–1 on penalties.

## Western Zone B
### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Benin | 0–1 | Togo | 0–0 | 0–1 |
Togo won 1–0 on aggregate.

### Second round

Winners qualified for 2020 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Togo | 4–3 | Nigeria | 4–1 | 0–2 |
| Niger | 2–1 | Ivory Coast | 2–0 | 0–1 |
| Ghana | 0–1 | Burkina Faso | 0–1 | 0–0 |
Togo won 4–3 on aggregate.
Niger won 2–1 on aggregate.
Burkina Faso won 1–0 on aggregate.

## Central Zone

Original draw (before Cameroon were excluded):
* First round: Central African Republic vs Chad.
* Second round: Winner 1 vs DR Congo, São Tomé and Príncipe vs Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea vs Congo.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Central African Republic | w/o | São Tomé and Príncipe | — | — |
| Chad | 4–5 | Equatorial Guinea | 3–3 | 1–2 |
Central African Republic won on walkover after São Tomé and Príncipe withdrew.
Equatorial Guinea won 5–4 on aggregate.

### Second round

Winners qualified for 2020 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Central African Republic | 1–6 | DR Congo | 0–2 | 1–4 |
| Equatorial Guinea | 2–3 | Congo | 2–2 | 0–1 |
DR Congo won 6–1 on aggregate.
Congo won 3–2 on aggregate.

## Central Eastern Zone

Original draw (before Ethiopia and Djibouti were included):
* First round: Tanzania vs Sudan, Kenya vs Burundi, South Sudan vs Uganda, Somalia vs Rwanda.
* Second round: Winner 2 vs Winner 1, Winner 4 vs Winner 3.

### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Burundi | 4–1 | South Sudan | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Somalia | 2–7 | Uganda | 1–3 | 1–4 |
| Djibouti | 3–5 | Ethiopia | 0–1 | 3–4 |
| Tanzania | 0–0 (4–1 p) | Kenya | 0–0 | 0–0 |
Burundi won 4–1 on aggregate.
Uganda won 7–2 on aggregate.
Ethiopia won 5–3 on aggregate.
0–0 on aggregate. Tanzania won 4–1 on penalties.

### Second round

Winners qualified for 2020 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Burundi | 0–6 | Uganda | 0–3 | 0–3 |
| Ethiopia | 1–2 | Rwanda | 0–1 | 1–1 |
| Tanzania | 2–2 (a) | Sudan | 0–1 | 2–1 |
Uganda won 6–0 on aggregate.
Rwanda won 2–1 on aggregate.
2–2 on aggregate. Tanzania won on away goals.

## Southern Zone
### First round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Botswana | 5–1 | Seychelles | 2–0 | 3–1 |
| Eswatini | 1–1 (a) | Malawi | 0–0 | 1–1 |
Botswana won 5–1 on aggregate.
1–1 on aggregate. Eswatini won on away goals.

### Second round

| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Botswana | 2–3 | Zambia | 0–0 | 2–3 |
| Eswatini | 2–2 (5–4 p) | Angola | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Comoros | 0–2 | Namibia | 0–2 | 0–0 |
| Madagascar | 3–3 (a) | Mozambique | 1–0 | 2–3 |
| Lesotho | 6–2 | South Africa | 3–2 | 3–0 |
| Mauritius | 1–7 | Zimbabwe | 0–4 | 1–3 |
Zambia won 3–2 on aggregate.
2–2 on aggregate. Eswatini won 5–4 on penalties.
Namibia won 2–0 on aggregate.
3–3 on aggregate. Madagascar won on away goals.
Lesotho won 6–2 on aggregate.
Zimbabwe won 7–1 on aggregate.

### Third round

Winners qualified for 2020 African Nations Championship.
| Team 1 | Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score | Team 2 | 1st leg | 2nd leg |
| Eswatini | 2–3 | Zambia | 0–1 | 2–2 |
| Madagascar | 1–2 | Namibia | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Zimbabwe | 3–1 | Lesotho | 3–1 | 0–0 |
Zambia won 3–2 on aggregate.
Namibia won 2–1 on aggregate.
Zimbabwe won 3–1 on aggregate.

## Qualified teams

The following 16 teams qualified for the final tournament.
| Team | Qualifying zone | Qualified on | Previous appearances in African Nations Championship |
| Cameroon (hosts) | Central Zone | 13 April 2019 | 3 (2011, 2016, 2018) |
| Morocco | Northern Zone | 19 October 2019 | 3 (2014, 2016, 2018) |
| Libya | Northern Zone | 31 January 2020 | 3 (2009, 2014, 2018) |
| Mali | Western Zone A | 20 October 2019 | 3 (2011, 2014, 2016) |
| Guinea | Western Zone A | 20 October 2019 | 2 (2016, 2018) |
| Togo | Western Zone B | 19 October 2019 | 0 (debut) |
| Niger | Western Zone B | 20 October 2019 | 2 (2011, 2016) |
| Burkina Faso | Western Zone B | 20 October 2019 | 2 (2014, 2018) |
| DR Congo | Central Zone | 20 October 2019 | 4 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016) |
| Congo | Central Zone | 20 October 2019 | 2 (2014, 2018) |
| Uganda | Central Eastern Zone | 19 October 2019 | 4 (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018) |
| Rwanda | Central Eastern Zone | 19 October 2019 | 3 (2011, 2016, 2018) |
| Tanzania | Central Eastern Zone | 18 October 2019 | 1 (2009) |
| Zambia | Southern Zone | 19 October 2019 | 3 (2009, 2016, 2018) |
| Namibia | Southern Zone | 19 October 2019 | 1 (2018) |
| Zimbabwe | Southern Zone | 20 October 2019 | 4 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016) |

## Goalscorers

There were 146 goals scored in 64 matches, for an average of 2.28 goals per match.
4 goals
* Patrick Kaddu
* Prince Dube
3 goals
* Joël Beya
* Pedro Oba
* Hlompho Kalake
* Moussa Koné
* Elmo Kambindu
* Anice Badri
* Emmanuel Chabula
2 goals
* Segolame Boy
* Thero Setsile
* Olivier Dusabe
* Mahamat Adda
* Jackson Muleka
* Luis Nlavo
* Mesfin Tafesse
* Jane Thaba-Ntšo
* Arnaud Randrianantenaina
* Sidi Touda
* Sikiru Alimi
* Ernest Sugira
* Richard Nane
* Marouf Tchakei
* Mustafa Kizza
* Viane Ssekajugo
* Leeroy Mavunga
1 goal
* Caranga
* Manguxi
* Thatayaone Ditlhokwe
* Omaatla Kebatho
* Joel Mogorosi
* Stéphane Pognongo
* Iddy Muselemu
* Jospin Nshimirimana
* Papalélé
* Saint-Fort Dimokoyen
* Abdelaziz Issa
* Bechir Djimet
* Carof Bakoua
* Mignon Etou
* Yann Mokombo
* Merveille Kikasa
* Youssouf Abdi Ahmed
* Mahdi Houssein Mahabeh
* Fouad Robleh
* Celesdonio
* José Ángel Efa
* Phinda Dlamini
* Sandile Gamedze
* Sifiso Matse
* Menzi Sithole
* Fanelo Tsabedze
* Yared Bayeh
* Amanuel Gebremichael
* Adis Giday
* Aschalew Tamene
* Mamadouba Bangoura
* Guy-Stéphane Bedi
* Lehlohonolo Fothoane
* Tsepo Seturumane
* Christopher Jackson
* Ahmed Moksi
* Théorodin Andrianirina
* Lalaina Manampisoa
* Micium Mhone
* Mohamed Camara
* Mamadou Coulibaly
* Kodjo Doussé
* Issaka Samaké
* Aly Desse Sissoko
* Oumar Traoré
* Andrew Aristide
* Hamid Ahaddad
* Badr Banoun
* Mohamed Nahiri
* Dayo António
* Maninho
* Luís Miquissone
* Dynamo Fredericks
* Ibrahim Abdoulaziz
* Idrissa Halidou
* Sunusi Ibrahim
* Abdoulaye Bâ
* Jean Diouf
* Assane Mbodj
* Ousseynou Niang
* Perry Monnaie
* Farhan Mohamed Ahmed
* Daud Abdullahi Tubal
* Repo Malepe
* Luvuyo Phewa
* Joseph Kuch
* Amir Kamal
* Yasir Mozamil
* Erasto Nyoni
* Ditram Nchimbi
* Ashraf Agoro
* Fahad Bayo
* Allan Kyambadde
* Taddeo Lwanga
* Mike Mutyaba
* Allan Okello
* Kelvin Kampamba
* Bruce Musakanya
* Amity Shamende
* Partson Jaure
* Nqobizitha Masuku
* Wellington Taderera
* Never Tigere