The 2022 African Nations Championship qualification was a men's football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2022 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 18 teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including Algeria which qualified automatically as hosts. Teams A total of 42 (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 26 May 2022 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

ZoneSpots (total 18)Teams entering qualificationDid not enterNorthern Zone(UNAF)2 spots+ (hosts)Western Zone A(WAFU-UFOA A)3 spotsWestern Zone B(WAFU-UFOA B)3 spotsCentral Zone(UNIFFAC)3 spots Central Eastern Zone(CECAFA)3 spots Southern Zone(COSAFA)3 spots

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 / RoundMatchdayDateWestern Zone AWestern Zone BCentral ZoneCentral Eastern ZoneSouthern ZoneFirst roundFirst roundFirst leg22–24 July 2022Second leg26–31 July 2022Second roundSecond roundFirst leg26–29 August 2022Second leg2–4 September 2022

Northern Zone Algeria qualified as host nation.

After Egypt and Tunisia withdrew before the draw, Libya and Morocco were the only teams entered: therefore, the Zone was scratched and both teams qualified.

Western Zone A First round

Senegal won 4–2 on aggregate.

Sierra Leone won 3–2 on aggregate.

1–1 on aggregate. Guinea-Bissau won 5–3 on penalties.

Second round Winners qualified for 2022 African Nations Championship.

Western Zone B First round

Ghana won 4–0 on aggregate.

Second round Winners qualified for 2022 African Nations Championship.

Central Zone

Winners qualified for 2022 African Nations Championship.

Central Eastern Zone

First round

Ethiopia won 5–0 on aggregate.

Tanzania won 3–1 on aggregate.

3–3 on aggregate. Djibouti won 4–2 on penalties.

Second round Winners qualified for 2022 African Nations Championship.

Southern Zone First round

Angola won 3–0 on aggregate.

South Africa won 1–0 on aggregate.

2–2 on aggregate. Botswana won on away goals rule.

Madagascar won 4–0 on aggregate.

Malawi advanced on walkover.

Mozambique won 1–0 on aggregate.

Second round Winners qualified for 2022 African Nations Championship.

Qualified teams The following 18 teams qualified for the final tournament.

Team Qualifying zone Qualified onPrevious appearances in African Nations Championship1 (hosts) Northern Zone 1 (2011) 4 (2014, 2016, 2018, 2020) 4 (2009, 2014, 2018, 2020) Western Zone A 2 (2009, 2011) 2 (2014, 2018) 4 (2011, 2014, 2016, 2020) Western Zone B 3 (2011, 2016, 2020) 3 (2009, 2011, 2014) 4 (2009, 2011, 2016, 2018) Central Zone 5 (2009, 2011, 2014, 2016, 2020) 3 (2014, 2018, 2020) 4 (2011, 2016, 2018, 2020) Central Eastern Zone 2 (2011, 2018) 2 (2014, 2016) 5 (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020) Southern Zone 0 (debut) 3 (2011, 2016, 2018) 1 (2014)

Goalscorers There were 105 goals scored in 54 matches, for an average of 1.94 goals per match.

References

External links — qualifiers schedule Total African Nations Championship, CAFonline.com Qualifiers – Central-Eastern Zone Qualifiers – Central Zone Qualifiers – North Zone Qualifiers – Southern Zone Qualifiers – West Zone A Qualifiers – West Zone B