2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches were organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, the 31st edition of the international men's football championship of Africa. A total of 16 teams qualified to play in the final tournament, including Gabon who qualified automatically as hosts.

Draw
A total of 52 teams entered the tournament, including the hosts (Gabon) which qualified automatically for the final tournament. The draw for the qualification stage took place on 8 April 2015, immediately after the announcement of the host nation, originally scheduled at 12:30 UTC+2 at the Marriott ‘Zamalek’ Hotel in Cairo, Egypt, but delayed to 15:00. The host nation team (Gabon) was also drawn into a group and played games against those in that group; however, these matches were only considered as friendlies and not counted for the standings.

Due to the cancellation of Morocco being hosts of the 2015 edition, the national team of Morocco were originally banned by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to enter the 2017 and 2019 Africa Cups of Nations. However, the ban was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, allowing Morocco to enter the tournament.

Seeding
For seeding, the teams were ranked using CAF's own system which were calculated based on the team's performance in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying tournament, the three most recent editions the Africa Cup of Nations, and their qualifying campaigns.


 * Non-participants
 * 🇪🇷 eritrea
 * 🇸🇴 somalia

Procedure
The draw procedure is as follows:
 * The hosts are placed in its own Pot X. A drawing of lots determines which group the hosts are "drawn" to play friendlies against (meaning this group in effect only has three teams).
 * The 13 teams in Pot 1 are drawn, with each group containing one team.
 * The 13 teams in Pot 2 are drawn, with each group containing one team.
 * The 13 teams in Pot 3 are drawn, with each group containing one team.
 * The 12 teams in Pot 4 are drawn, with each group, except the one with only three teams (where the host had already been "drawn" into), containing one team.

Format
There were thirteen groups, twelve with four teams and one with three teams (plus the host nation which played friendlies with the three teams). The group winners and two best overall runners-up qualified for the tournament. When determining the best runners-up, the group of the host nation (where only matches between three teams were counted for the standings) was not considered, as well as any group where only three teams were left due to withdrawal of one team.

Tiebreakers
The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order:
 * 1) Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned;
 * 2) Goal difference in games between the teams concerned;
 * 3) Goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
 * 4) Away goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
 * If, after applying criteria 1 to 4 to several teams, two teams still have an equal ranking, criteria 1 to 4 are reapplied exclusively to the matches between the two teams in question to determine their final rankings. If this procedure does not lead to a decision, criteria 6 to 9 apply;
 * 1) Goal difference in all games;
 * 2) Goals scored in all games;
 * 3) Away goals scored in all games;
 * 4) Drawing of lots.

Schedule
The qualifiers started with the first matches played in the FIFA international dates of 8–16 June 2015.

Groups
{{legend|#BBF3BB|The thirteen group winners and the two best runners-up qualified for the final tournament.}}

Group I

 * 🇬🇦 gabon was also drawn into this group and played against the other three teams in the group; however, those matches were only considered friendlies and did not count for the standings.

Ranking of second-placed teams
Only groups with four teams were considered for this ranking. Therefore, Group I was not considered, as well as Group G, where only three teams were left due to the withdrawal of one team.

Qualified teams
The following teams qualified for the tournament.


 * 1 Bold indicates champion for that year. Italic indicates host for that year.

Goalscorers

 * 7 goals


 * Hillal Soudani


 * 6 goals


 * 🇪🇹 Getaneh Kebede


 * 5 goals


 * 🇧🇯 Stéphane Sessègnon
 * 🇧🇮 Fiston Abdul Razak
 * Férébory Doré
 * 🇱🇷 William Jebor


 * 4 goals


 * Islam Slimani
 * 🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah
 * 🇲🇦 Youssef El-Arabi


 * 3 goals


 * Gelson
 * Moussa Limane
 * 🇨🇩 Cédric Bakambu
 * 🇬🇭 Jordan Ayew
 * 🇱🇾 Mohamed Zubya
 * 🇲🇱 Abdoulay Diaby
 * Cheikh Moulaye Ahmed
 * 🇷🇼 Ernest Sugira
 * 🇸🇳 Sadio Mané
 * Thamsanqa Gabuza
 * 🇹🇳 Yassine Chikhaoui
 * Winston Kalengo
 * Khama Billiat
 * Knowledge Musona


 * 2 goals


 * Sofiane Feghouli
 * Faouzi Ghoulam
 * Saphir Taïder
 * Riyad Mahrez
 * 🇧🇯 Frédéric Gounongbe
 * Joel Mogorosi
 * 🇨🇲 Vincent Aboubakar
 * 🇨🇻 Djaniny
 * Vianney Mabidé
 * Jordan Massengo
 * Prince Oniangué
 * 🇨🇩 Jonathan Bolingi
 * 🇨🇩 Jordan Botaka
 * 🇨🇩 Joël Kimwaki
 * 🇨🇩 Paul-José M'Poku
 * 🇨🇩 Ndombe Mubele
 * Emilio Nsue
 * 🇪🇹 Saladin Said
 * 🇬🇭 Christian Atsu
 * 🇬🇭 Asamoah Gyan
 * Idrissa Sylla
 * 🇬🇼 Zezinho
 * 🇰🇪 Ayub Masika
 * 🇱🇷 Anthony Laffor
 * 🇲🇼 Chiukepo Msowoya
 * 🇲🇼 Gerald Phiri Jr.
 * 🇲🇱 Moussa Doumbia
 * 🇲🇱 Modibo Maïga
 * 🇲🇦 Nabil Dirar
 * 🇲🇿 Domingues
 * 🇲🇿 Apson Manjate
 * 🇳🇦 Peter Shalulile
 * Victorien Adebayor
 * 🇷🇼 Jacques Tuyisenge
 * 🇸🇹 Luís Leal
 * 🇸🇳 Mame Biram Diouf
 * 🇸🇳 Moussa Konaté
 * Dine Suzette
 * Keagan Dolly
 * Hlompho Kekana
 * 🇸🇸 Atak Lual
 * 🇸🇿 Felix Badenhorst
 * 🇸🇿 Sabelo Ndzinisa
 * 🇸🇿 Tony Tsabedze
 * Komlan Agbégniadan
 * Floyd Ayité
 * Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba
 * 🇹🇳 Saber Khalifa
 * 🇹🇳 Taha Yassine Khenissi
 * Collins Mbesuma
 * Cuthbert Malajila


 * 1 goal


 * Nabil Bentaleb
 * Yassine Benzia
 * Ryad Boudebouz
 * Yacine Brahimi
 * Rachid Ghezzal
 * Aïssa Mandi
 * Fredy
 * Gilberto
 * Dolly Menga
 * Pana
 * 🇧🇯 Khaled Adénon
 * 🇧🇯 David Djigla
 * 🇧🇯 Jodel Dossou
 * 🇧🇯 Steve Mounié
 * 🇧🇯 Mickaël Poté
 * Onkabetse Makgantai
 * Galabgwe Moyana
 * Thabang Sesinyi
 * 🇧🇫 Aristide Bancé
 * 🇧🇫 Banou Diawara
 * 🇧🇫 Préjuce Nakoulma
 * 🇧🇫 Jonathan Pitroipa
 * 🇧🇫 Alain Traoré
 * 🇧🇫 Jonathan Zongo
 * 🇧🇮 Pierre Kwizera
 * 🇧🇮 Abbas Nshimirimana
 * 🇧🇮 Enock Sabumukama
 * 🇨🇲 Karl Toko Ekambi
 * 🇨🇲 Benjamin Moukandjo
 * 🇨🇲 Nicolas Nkoulou
 * 🇨🇲 Edgar Salli
 * 🇨🇲 Sébastien Siani
 * 🇨🇻 Babanco
 * 🇨🇻 Odaïr Fortes
 * 🇨🇻 Ricardo Gomes
 * 🇨🇻 Kay
 * 🇨🇻 Ryan Mendes
 * 🇨🇻 Nuno Jóia
 * 🇨🇻 Nuno Rocha
 * 🇨🇻 Garry Rodrigues
 * 🇨🇻 Júlio Tavares
 * Junior Gourrier
 * Salif Kéïta
 * Foxi Kéthévoama
 * Eloge Enza Yamissi
 * 🇰🇲 Youssouf M'Changama
 * 🇰🇲 El Fardou Ben Nabouhane
 * 🇩🇯 Mohamed Liban
 * 🇨🇩 Yannick Bolasie
 * 🇨🇩 Neeskens Kebano
 * 🇨🇩 Elia Meschak
 * 🇪🇬 Basem Morsy
 * 🇪🇬 Ramy Rabia
 * 🇪🇬 Ramadan Sobhi
 * Carlos Akapo
 * Josete Miranda
 * Randy
 * Iván Zarandona
 * 🇪🇹 Dawit Fekadu
 * 🇪🇹 Gatoch Panom
 * 🇪🇹 Seyoum Tesfaye
 * Mustapha Carayol
 * 🇬🇭 David Accam
 * 🇬🇭 Frank Acheampong
 * 🇬🇭 André Ayew
 * 🇬🇭 John Boye
 * 🇬🇭 Jeffrey Schlupp
 * 🇬🇭 Samuel Tetteh
 * 🇬🇭 Mubarak Wakaso
 * François Kamano
 * Guy-Michel Landel
 * Mohamed Yattara
 * 🇬🇼 Idrissa Camará
 * 🇬🇼 Cícero
 * 🇬🇼 Eridson
 * 🇬🇼 Frédéric Mendy
 * 🇬🇼 Toni Silva
 * 🇨🇮 Gervinho
 * 🇨🇮 Max Gradel
 * 🇨🇮 Jonathan Kodjia
 * 🇰🇪 Eric Johanna
 * 🇰🇪 Michael Olunga
 * 🇰🇪 Paul Were
 * Sunny Jane
 * Tumelo Khutlang
 * Ralekoti Mokhahlane
 * Bokang Mothoana
 * Jane Thabantso
 * 🇱🇷 Francis Doe
 * 🇱🇷 Gizzie Dorbor
 * 🇱🇷 Sam Johnson
 * 🇱🇷 Mark Paye
 * 🇱🇾 Faisal Al Badri
 * 🇱🇾 Sanad Al Ouarfali
 * 🇱🇾 Fouad Al Triki
 * 🇱🇾 Mohamed El Monir
 * 🇱🇾 Almoatasembellah Mohamed
 * Carolus Andriamatsinoro
 * Faneva Imà Andriatsima
 * Fabrice Angio Rakotondraibe
 * Pascal Razakanantenaina
 * Sarivahy Vombola
 * 🇲🇼 John Banda
 * 🇲🇱 Salif Coulibaly
 * 🇲🇱 Moussa Marega
 * 🇲🇱 Adama Traoré
 * 🇲🇱 Molla Wagué
 * 🇲🇱 Mustapha Yatabaré
 * 🇲🇱 Sambou Yatabaré
 * Aly Abeid
 * Boubacar Bagili
 * Diallo Guidileye
 * Fabien Pithia
 * Francis Rasolofonirina
 * Andy Sophie
 * 🇲🇦 Nordin Amrabat
 * 🇲🇦 Aziz Bouhaddouz
 * 🇲🇦 Omar El Kaddouri
 * 🇲🇦 Hakim Ziyech
 * 🇲🇿 Bheu Januário
 * 🇳🇦 Deon Hotto
 * 🇳🇦 Benson Shilongo
 * 🇳🇦 Hendrik Somaeb
 * Koffi Dan Kowa
 * Moussa Maâzou
 * Souleymane Dela Sacko
 * 🇳🇬 Kelechi Iheanacho
 * 🇳🇬 Etebo Oghenekaro
 * 🇷🇼 Jean-Baptiste Mugiraneza
 * 🇷🇼 Muhadjiri Hakizimana
 * 🇷🇼 Dominique Savio Nshuti
 * 🇷🇼 Fitina Omborenga
 * 🇸🇹 Faduley
 * 🇸🇳 Keita Baldé
 * 🇸🇳 Mohamed Diamé
 * 🇸🇳 Famara Diedhiou
 * 🇸🇳 Cheikhou Kouyaté
 * 🇸🇳 Oumar Niasse
 * 🇸🇳 Pape Souaré
 * Achille Henriette
 * Nelson Laurence
 * Gervais Waye-Hive
 * 🇸🇱 Shéka Fofana
 * 🇸🇱 Kei Kamara
 * Tokelo Rantie
 * 🇸🇸 Sebit Bruno
 * 🇸🇩 Ramadan Alagab
 * 🇸🇩 Muhannad El Tahir
 * Emmanuel Adebayor
 * Serge Akakpo
 * Vincent Bossou
 * Mathieu Dossevi
 * Sadat Ouro-Akoriko
 * 🇹🇳 Fakhreddine Ben Youssef
 * 🇹🇳 Maher Hannachi
 * 🇹🇳 Hamdi Harbaoui
 * 🇹🇳 Wahbi Khazri
 * 🇹🇳 Hamza Lahmar
 * 🇹🇳 Youssef Msakni
 * 🇹🇳 Ferjani Sassi
 * 🇹🇳 Naïm Sliti
 * 🇹🇳 Yoann Touzghar
 * 🇺🇬 Khalid Aucho
 * 🇺🇬 Luwagga Kizito
 * 🇺🇬 Geofrey Massa
 * 🇺🇬 Tony Mawejje
 * 🇺🇬 Farouk Miya
 * 🇺🇬 Brian Umony
 * Rainford Kalaba
 * Christopher Katongo
 * Costa Nhamoinesu
 * Evans Rusike


 * 1 own goal


 * 🇱🇾 Ahmed El Trbi (against São Tomé and Príncipe)
 * 🇸🇿 Njabulo Ndlovu (against Zimbabwe)