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.[1]
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.[2][3] 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.[4] A re-draw of the Central Zone (UNIFFAC) was also made, after Cameroon (new hosts) were excluded from qualifying.[5][6] Therefore, a total of 48 (out of 53) teams CAF member national teams entered the qualifying rounds after the re-draws.
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).[9]
Schedule
The schedule of the qualifying rounds was as follows.
Zone / Round
Matchday
Date
Northern Zone
Western Zone A Western Zone B Central Zone Central Eastern Zone
