What is the AFCON Qualifiers Format?
The AFCON qualifying round includes 52 teams, who compete to make it to the final stage of the tournament. Split into 12 groups from A to K, only the top two sides from each group can make it through, so only 24 teams, including the host, can play in the main phase.
Although all groups are supposed to have 4 teams each, there are two groups with 3 sides each, as two national sides were suspended by FIFA.
Once all the matches are played, the top two nations from each of the groups make it to the final stage of the tournament. Then, the 24 teams will be assigned to 6 groups where they will compete for a spot in the knockout stage. From there, the nations play in the classic tournament format, starting with the round of 16, followed by quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
Where Can I Get AFCON Qualifiers Predictions?
There are many websites online that provide players with tips for AFCON qualifiers fixtures. Betting on AFCON is extremely popular in Africa, as football is the most popular sport in many countries. AFCON qualifiers predictions sites offer solid advice for all players looking for useful tips for betting on AFCON.
AFCON Qualifiers Stage Fixtures
In the section below, you can find the overview of all AFCON qualifiers fixtures and groups.
Group A
Group A includes four teams, Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leona, and Sao Tome and Principe. The current group leaders are Nigeria, with a 2-point lead over second-placed Guinea Bissau. Sierra Leone is the third-placed nation with 5 points from the four games so far, while Sao Tome and Principe have only one point.
Group B
The second group of AFCON qualifiers is led by Burkina Faso, who have collected 10 points from the matches they’ve played. Three points behind them is Cape Verde with 7 points. Meanwhile, Eswatini and Togo are third and fourth, respectively. Though they both still have a chance to qualify, they would need to win both remaining matches on their schedule.
Group C
The C group includes only three national sides, as the Kenyan Football Federation was suspended by FIFA. The leaders are Namibia, as they’ve collected 5 points from the three matches so far. Cameroon is the second-placed side, with 4 points, while Burundi is third, with only one point and two matches played.
Group D
The fourth group of AFCON consists of Egypt, Guinea, Malawi, and Ethiopia, respectively. Egypt and Guinea are competing for the first place, as they both have 9 points each. Though Malawi and Ethiopia still have a chance to qualify for the tournament’s main round, they both have three points each.
Group E
The Ghanaian national team leads the fifth group of AFCON qualifiers. Group E leaders have collected 8 points, while the Central African Republic is second with 7 points. Angola is currently in the third position, with 5 points collected, while Madagascar is fourth, with only one point.
Group F
The Group F of AFCON qualifiers includes Algeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Niger, respectively. The Algerian side has a comfortable lead over the other teams, with 12 points from four matches. The rest of the group will compete for the second qualifying place since Algeria has already secured their spot. Tanzania and Uganda both have four points, while Niger is at the bottom of the group with two points.
Group G
The current leaders in Group G are Mali, followed by Congo, Gambia, and South Sudan respectively. Mali currently has nine points after playing four games, while Congo and Gambia share the second place. Though South Sudan still has a chance to make it to the main tournament, they are in the last place with 3 points.
Group H
Group H of AFCON qualifiers includes the future hosts, Ivory Coast, the first-positioned nation with 10 points. Just behind them is the Zambian squad, who have collected 9 points from the four matches played so far. Behind them are Comoros and Lesotho, who have only 3 and 1 point, respectively.
Group I
Although Gabon is currently the group leader with 7 points, AFCON qualifiers Group I is the most competitive at this stage of the tournament. Just behind them is Sudan with 6 points, while Mauritania and DR Congo have 5 and 4 points, respectively. The defining matches of this group will be Gabon vs Mauritania and Mauritania’s fixture against Sudan.
Group J
Group J includes Tunisia, Equatorial Guinea, Libya, and Botswana, in the said order. Though Tunisia is currently first with 10 points, Equatorial Guinea is just behind them with 9. What’s more, their next fixture sees them play against each other, which will probably determine the winner of the group. Meanwhile, Libya may still have a chance to make it through to the main stage of the tournament if they win their remaining two games. Botswana, on the other hand, has only 1 point and can’t make it through.
Group K
Group K in AFCON qualifiers includes only three national sides. First-placed Morocco competed against South Africa and Liberia for the two qualifying spots, while Zimbabwe’s national side was disqualified by FIFA. As things stand, Morocco has the best chance of making it through with 6 points from only two matches. Meanwhile, South Africa has 4 points after three matches, which is enough to be positioned higher than Liberia with only 1 point.
Group L
The Senegalese national team is the overwhelming favourite in group L. After four games, they’ve collected 12 points with 10 goals scored and only 2 conceded. Competing for the second qualifying spot are Mozambique, Rwanda, and Benin, with 4, 3, and 2 points, respectively.
Frequently Asked Questions About
If you have any more questions about the AFCON Qualifiers for this year, have a look at the FAQ section below.
Is Nigeria still in the AFCON qualifiers?
Yes, the Nigerian national team is still competing in the AFCON qualifiers fixtures. Currently, they are the first-placed side in their group, after earning 9 points in four matches.
Has Nigeria qualified for AFCON 2024?
Although AFCON qualifiers aren’t yet finished, Nigeria is among the favourites to qualify for AFCON 2024.
Who is in the Nigeria squad in the World qualifier?
The Nigerian squad for AFCON includes 23 players for their matches. Among them are Victor Osimhen, Kelechi Iheanacho, Wilfred Ndidi, and Alex Iwobi.
How many teams qualify for AFCON 2023 from each group?
Only the top two teams from each AFCON group will qualify for the main phase of the competition.
