2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches were organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, the 32nd edition of the international men's football championship of Africa.

As per the decision of the CAF Executive Committee on 20 July 2017, a total of 24 teams qualified to play in the final tournament.

Draw
A total of 51 teams entered the tournament, including Cameroon which would have qualified automatically for the final tournament as the hosts before their hosting rights were stripped. The draw for the qualifications stage took place on 12 January 2017, 19:30 UTC+1, in Libreville, Gabon.

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

The teams ranked 1–45 (Pots 1–4) directly entered the group stage, while the teams ranked 46–51 (Pot 5) entered the preliminary round.


 * Notes

Procedure
The nine teams from Pot 4 were drawn in Groups D to L, while the twelve teams from each of the Pots 3, 2 and 1 were drawn in Groups A to L. Then, the six teams from Pot 5 were drawn into three pairings, which would play in the preliminary round. The three winners would advance to Groups A, B and C of the group stage.

Schedule
The schedule of the qualifying tournament was as follows.

Matchday 2 was postponed at the request of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualified teams so that they could play friendly matches in March 2018 to prepare for the World Cup.

Preliminary round
The six teams were drawn into three ties, played in home-and-away two-legged format. The three winners advanced to the group stage to join the 45 teams which entered directly.

Group stage
The 48 teams were drawn into 12 groups of four teams (from Group A to Group L). They consisted of the 45 teams which entered directly, plus the three winners of the preliminary round whose identity was not known at the time of the draw.

The original host Cameroon was drawn into Group B. With the team guaranteed a spot in the finals regardless of its ranking in the group, its matches would have counted in determining the qualification of the other teams.

All group winners plus three best runners-up would have qualified for the finals. From Group B, if Cameroon had finished first or second, the other team placed in the top 2 would have qualified too and no other team would have been eligible to qualify, while if Cameroon had finished third or fourth, the group winner would have qualified and the runner-up would have been eligible to qualify as one of the three best runners-up.

On 20 July 2017, when the first round of the qualifying group stage had already been played, the final tournament was expanded from 16 to 24 teams. Under the new format, the best-placed team other than Cameroon would have qualified from Group B, while the group winners and runners-up would have qualified from all other groups.

On 30 November 2018 Cameroon was stripped of the hosting rights. The team lost its automatic spot for the finals but still could qualify through the qualification process, which it eventually did. On 8 January 2019 Egypt was named as the replacement host. As at that point Egypt had already been assured of a top 2 finish in Group J, the winners and runners-up from all qualification groups would now qualify for the final tournament.

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 (Regulations Article 14):
 * Tiebreakers
 * 1) Points in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
 * 2) Goal difference in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
 * 3) Goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
 * 4) Away goals scored in head-to-head matches among tied teams;
 * 5) If more than two teams were tied, and after applying all head-to-head criteria above, a subset of teams were still tied, all head-to-head criteria above were reapplied exclusively to this subset of teams;
 * 6) Goal difference in all group matches;
 * 7) Goals scored in all group matches;
 * 8) Away goals scored in all group matches;
 * 9) Drawing of lots.

{{legend|#BBF3BB|The 12 group winners and runners-up qualified for the final tournament.}}

Qualified teams
The following 24 teams qualified for the final tournament.


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

Goalscorers

 * 7 goals
 * 🇳🇬 Odion Ighalo


 * 6 goals
 * 🇧🇮 Fiston Abdul Razak


 * 5 goals


 * 🇰🇲 El Fardou Ben Nabouhane
 * Knowledge Musona


 * 4 goals


 * Mateus Galiano
 * 🇪🇬 Mohamed Salah
 * 🇱🇾 Anis Saltou
 * Percy Tau
 * 🇹🇳 Naim Sliti


 * 3 goals


 * Baghdad Bounedjah
 * Gelson
 * 🇧🇮 Cédric Amissi
 * Thievy Bifouma
 * 🇨🇩 Cédric Bakambu
 * 🇪🇬 Trézéguet
 * Emilio Nsue
 * 🇬🇼 Frédéric Mendy
 * 🇱🇷 William Jebor
 * 🇱🇾 Ahmad Benali
 * Carolus Andriamatsinoro
 * Faneva Imà Andriatsima
 * Paulin Voavy
 * Ismaël Diakité
 * 🇲🇦 Hakim Ziyech
 * 🇷🇼 Jacques Tuyisenge
 * 🇸🇳 M'Baye Niang
 * 🇺🇬 Farouk Miya
 * Justin Shonga
 * Khama Billiat


 * 2 goals


 * Riyad Mahrez
 * 🇧🇯 Steve Mounié
 * 🇧🇫 Aristide Bancé
 * 🇧🇫 Bertrand Traoré
 * 🇨🇲 Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
 * 🇨🇻 Ricardo Gomes
 * Prince Ibara
 * 🇪🇬 Marwan Mohsen
 * 🇬🇦 Denis Bouanga
 * Assan Ceesay
 * 🇬🇭 Jordan Ayew
 * 🇬🇭 Raphael Dwamena
 * François Kamano
 * 🇬🇼 Piqueti
 * 🇨🇮 Eric Bailly
 * 🇨🇮 Maxwel Cornet
 * 🇨🇮 Seydou Doumbia
 * 🇨🇮 Jonathan Kodjia
 * 🇰🇪 Michael Olunga
 * 🇱🇾 Hamdou Elhouni
 * 🇱🇾 Mohamed Zubya
 * 🇲🇱 Kalifa Coulibaly
 * 🇲🇱 Adama Traoré
 * 🇲🇦 Youssef En-Nesyri
 * 🇲🇿 Stanley Ratifo
 * 🇲🇿 Reginaldo
 * 🇳🇦 Peter Shalulile
 * Victorien Adebayor
 * 🇳🇬 Ahmed Musa
 * 🇸🇳 Idrissa Gueye
 * 🇸🇳 Moussa Sow
 * Lebo Mothiba
 * 🇸🇸 James Moga
 * Simon Msuva
 * Mbwana Samatta
 * 🇹🇳 Firas Chaouat
 * 🇹🇳 Taha Yassine Khenissi
 * 🇹🇳 Yassine Meriah
 * 🇺🇬 Emmanuel Okwi
 * Augustine Mulenga


 * 1 goal


 * Mehdi Abeid
 * Youcef Attal
 * Ramy Bensebaini
 * Sofiane Hanni
 * Djalma
 * Wilson Eduardo
 * 🇧🇯 Sessi D'Almeida
 * 🇧🇯 David Djigla
 * 🇧🇯 Stéphane Sessègnon
 * Keeagile Kobe
 * 🇧🇫 Issoufou Dayo
 * 🇧🇫 Banou Diawara
 * 🇧🇫 Jonathan Pitroipa
 * 🇧🇫 Abdou Razack Traoré
 * 🇧🇮 Saido Berahino
 * 🇧🇮 Gaël Duhayindavyi
 * 🇨🇲 Vincent Aboubakar
 * 🇨🇲 Stéphane Bahoken
 * 🇨🇲 Christian Bassogog
 * 🇨🇲 Clinton N'Jie
 * 🇨🇻 Djaniny
 * 🇨🇻 Stopira
 * Junior Gourrier
 * Habib Habibou
 * Salif Kéïta
 * Geoffrey Kondogbia
 * 🇰🇲 Chaker Alhadhur
 * 🇰🇲 Nasser Chamed
 * 🇰🇲 Benjaloud Youssouf
 * Merveil Ndockyt
 * Prince Oniangué
 * 🇩🇯 Mohamed Salem Breik
 * 🇩🇯 Abdi Idleh Hamza
 * 🇨🇩 Yannick Bolasie
 * 🇨🇩 Kabongo Kasongo
 * 🇨🇩 Chancel Mbemba
 * 🇨🇩 Elia Meschak
 * 🇪🇬 Ayman Ashraf
 * 🇪🇬 Ahmed Elmohamady
 * 🇪🇬 Baher El Mohamady
 * 🇪🇬 Mohamed Elneny
 * 🇪🇬 Ahmed Hegazi
 * 🇪🇬 Salah Mohsen
 * 🇪🇬 Amr Warda
 * Pablo Ganet
 * Pedro Obiang
 * Sibonginkosi Gamedze
 * Sifiso Nkambule
 * 🇪🇹 Getaneh Kebede
 * 🇬🇦 Aaron Appindangoyé
 * 🇬🇦 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
 * 🇬🇦 André Biyogo Poko
 * Mamadou Danso
 * Ablie Jallow
 * Lamin Jallow
 * Bubacarr Jobe
 * 🇬🇭 John Boye
 * 🇬🇭 Asamoah Gyan
 * 🇬🇭 Ebenezer Ofori
 * 🇬🇭 Jeffrey Schlupp
 * Ibrahima Cissé
 * Sadio Diallo
 * José Kanté
 * Naby Keïta
 * Seydouba Soumah
 * Mohamed Yattara
 * 🇬🇼 Carlos Embaló
 * 🇬🇼 Edigeison Gomes
 * 🇬🇼 Toni Silva
 * 🇨🇮 Cheick Doukouré
 * 🇨🇮 Max Gradel
 * 🇨🇮 Nicolas Pépé
 * 🇨🇮 Jean Michaël Seri
 * 🇰🇪 Eric Johana Omondi
 * 🇰🇪 Victor Wanyama
 * Nkau Lerotholi
 * Sera Motebang
 * Thapelo Tale
 * 🇱🇷 Teah Dennis Jr.
 * 🇱🇷 Sam Johnson
 * 🇱🇾 Rabi Al-Shadi
 * 🇱🇾 Muaid Ellafi
 * 🇱🇾 Salem Roma
 * 🇱🇾 Khaled Majdi
 * 🇱🇾 Motasem Sabbou
 * Njiva Rakotoharimalala
 * 🇲🇼 Gerald Phiri Jr.
 * 🇲🇼 Patrick Phiri
 * 🇲🇱 Yves Bissouma
 * 🇲🇱 Salif Coulibaly
 * 🇲🇱 Moussa Djenepo
 * 🇲🇱 Moussa Doumbia
 * 🇲🇱 Mamadou Fofana
 * 🇲🇱 Moussa Marega
 * Adama Ba
 * Khassa Camara
 * Moctar Sidi El Hacen
 * Mohamed Soudani
 * Kévin Bru
 * 🇲🇦 Nordin Amrabat
 * 🇲🇦 Khalid Boutaïb
 * 🇲🇦 Fayçal Fajr
 * 🇲🇿 Nelson Divrassone
 * 🇲🇿 Mexer
 * 🇲🇿 Zainadine
 * 🇳🇦 Deon Hotto
 * 🇳🇦 Benson Shilongo
 * 🇳🇦 Petrus Shitembi
 * Amadou Moutari
 * Youssouf Oumarou
 * 🇳🇬 Chidozie Awaziem
 * 🇳🇬 Samuel Kalu
 * 🇳🇬 Henry Onyekuru
 * 🇳🇬 Moses Simon
 * 🇷🇼 Meddie Kagere
 * 🇷🇼 Ernest Sugira
 * 🇸🇹 Harramiz
 * 🇸🇹 Zé
 * 🇸🇳 Keita Baldé
 * 🇸🇳 Pape Abou Cissé
 * 🇸🇳 Moussa Konaté
 * 🇸🇳 Sidy Sarr
 * Leroy Coralie
 * Rody Melanie
 * Perry Monnaie
 * 🇸🇱 Umaru Bangura
 * 🇸🇱 Julius Wobay
 * Thulani Hlatshwayo
 * Teboho Mokoena
 * Lebo Mothiba
 * Dino Ndlovu
 * Tokelo Rantie
 * 🇸🇸 Dominic Aboi
 * 🇸🇸 Leon Uso Khamis
 * 🇸🇸 Atak Lual
 * 🇸🇸 Dominic Abui Pretino
 * 🇸🇸 Athir Thomas
 * 🇸🇸 Duku Wurube
 * 🇸🇩 Abuaagla Abdalla
 * 🇸🇩 Seif Teiri
 * 🇸🇩 Athar El Tahir
 * 🇸🇩 Mohamed Musa Idris
 * 🇸🇩 Yasir Muzamil
 * Aggrey Morris
 * Erasto Nyoni
 * Emmanuel Adebayor
 * Floyd Ayité
 * Kévin Denkey
 * Kodjo Fo-Doh Laba
 * 🇹🇳 Anice Badri
 * 🇹🇳 Syam Ben Youssef
 * 🇺🇬 Patrick Kaddu
 * 🇺🇬 Geoffrey Sserunkuma
 * Lazarous Kambole
 * Donashano Malama
 * Stoppila Sunzu
 * Ronald Pfumbidzai


 * 1 own goal


 * 🇧🇮 Omar Ngando (against Gabon)
 * Luis Meseguer (against Senegal)
 * 🇬🇭 Nicholas Opoku (against Kenya)
 * 🇸🇹 Jordão Diogo (against Madagascar)
 * 🇸🇳 Kalidou Koulibaly (against Madagascar)
 * Nigel Hoareau (against South Africa)
 * Buhle Mkhwanazi (against Nigeria)
 * 🇸🇸 Hassan James (against Gabon)
 * Teenage Hadebe (against DR Congo)