2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers: Fixtures, tables & how it works

  • Ivory Coast will host the tournament they won in 2015
  • Senegal are the defending champions after beating Egypt in a penalty shootout last year
  • 52 nations entered the qualification process but only 24 will compete in the finals
2023 will be the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations
2023 will be the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations / GIUSEPPE CACACE/GettyImages
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The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held in the Ivory Coast at the start of 2024 with the hope of improving upon the previous edition of the tournament.

Senegal defeated Egypt in a penalty shootout to win the nation's first-ever continental title but the tournament was overshadowed by the Olembe Stadium tragedy which claimed the lives of eight people in a crush outside the ground.

Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe claimed that the 2023 AFCON "will be the best" in the history of a competition which dates back to 1957.

Here's everything you need to know about the qualification process for this continental contest.



AFCON 2023 qualifying format

Unlike its European counterpart, which is confusingly entangled with the UEFA Nations League, qualification for the 2023 AFCON is very straight forward.

After a preliminary round of two-legged fixtures between the 12 lowest-ranked teams in the federation, 48 nations were split into 12 groups of four. Each team played every opponent in their group twice - once on home soil and again on the road - collecting three points for a win, one for a draw and none if they lost.

The two nations that topped the mini-table of each group booked their place for the competition proper, eliminating the need for play-offs.

Kenya and Zimbabwe were both disqualified before the qualification process got underway while serving FIFA suspensions owing to "undue interference by a third party".


AFCON 2023 qualifying dates

Qualification for the finals in the Ivory Coast began 19 months before the opening game of the actual tournament.

The qualifying games were split across six matchdays, beginning in June 2022 before wrapping up in September 2023.

  • Matchday 1 & 2: June 1-13, 2022
  • Matchday 3: March 22-24, 2023
  • Matchday 4: March 26-29, 2023
  • Matchday 5: June 14-20, 2023
  • Matchday 6: September 6-12, 2023

AFCON 2023 qualifying groups & fixtures

Group A

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Nigeria

6

5

0

1

18

15

2.

Guinea-Bissau

6

4

1

1

6

13

3.

Sierra Leone

6

1

2

3

-1

5

4.

Sao Tome and Principe

6

0

1

5

-23

1


Group A fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Guinea-Bissau 5-1 Sao Tome and Principe

09/06/22

17:00

Nigeria 2-1 Sierra Leone

09/06/22

17:00

Sao Tome and Principe 0-10 Nigeria

13/06/22

14:00

Sierra Leone 2-2 Guinea-Bissau

13/06/22

17:00

Sierra Leone 2-2 Sao Tome and Principe

22/03/23

16:00

Nigeria 0-1 Guinea-Bissau

24/03/23

16:00

Sao Tome and Principe 0-1 Guinea-Bissau

26/03/23

17:00

Guinea-Bissau 0-1 Nigeria

27/03/23

17:00

Sao Tome and Principe 0-1 Guinea-Bissau

14/06/23

17:00

Sierra Leone 2-3 Nigeria

18/06/23

17:00

Nigeria 6-0 Sao Tome and Principe

10/09/23

17:00

Guinea-Bissau 2-1 Sierra Leone

11/09/23

17:00


Group B

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Burkina Faso

6

3

2

1

3

11

2.

Cape Verde

6

3

1

2

2

10

3.

Togo

6

2

2

2

0

8

4.

Eswatini

6

0

3

3

-5

3


Group B fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Togo 2-2 Eswatini

03/06/22

17:00

Burkina Faso 2-0 Cape Verde

03/06/22

20:00

Eswatini 1-3 Burkina Faso

07/06/22

14:00

Cape Verde 2-0 Togo

07/06/22

18:30

Cape Verde 0-0 Eswatini

24/03/23

16:00

Burkina Faso 1-0 Togo

24/03/23

19:00

Eswatini 0-1 Cape Verde

28/03/23

14:00

Togo 1-1 Burkina Faso

28/03/23

20:00

Eswatini 0-2 Togo

18/06/23

16:00

Cape Verde 3-1 Burkina Faso

18/06/23

17:00

Burkina Faso 0-0 Eswatini

08/09/23

20:00

Togo 3-2 Cape Verde

10/09/23

17:00


Group C

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Cameroon

4

2

1

1

3

7

2.

Namibia

4

1

2

1

0

5

3.

Burundi

4

1

1

1

-3

4

4.

Kenya

0

0

0

0

0

0


Group C fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Namibia 1-1 Burundi

04/06/22

14:00

Cameroon vs Kenya

04/06/22

17:00

Kenya vs Namibia

08/06/22

14:00

Burundi 0-1 Cameroon

09/06/22

14:00

Kenya vs Burundi

19/09/22

N/A

Burundi vs Kenya

27/09/22

N/A

Kenya vs Cameroon

20/03/23

N/A

Cameroon 1-1 Namibia

24/03/23

20:30

Namibia 2-1 Cameroon

28/03/23

14:00

Namibia vs Kenya

28/03/23

N/A

Burundi 3-2 Namibia

20/06/23

14:00

Cameroon 3-0 Burundi

12/09/23

20:00


Group D

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Egypt

6

5

0

1

7

15

2.

Guinea

6

3

1

2

2

10

3.

Malawi

6

1

2

3

-6

5

4.

Ethiopia

6

1

1

4

-3

4


Group D fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Malawi 2-1 Ethiopia

05/06/22

14:00

Egypt 1-0 Guinea

05/06/22

20:00

Ethiopia 2-0 Egypt

09/06/22

17:00

Guinea 1-0 Malawi

09/06/22

17:00

Egypt 2-0 Malawi

24/03/23

19:00

Guinea 2-0 Ethiopia

24/03/23

20:30

Ethiopia 2-3 Guinea

27/03/23

20:00

Malawi 0-4 Egypt

28/03/23

14:00

Guinea 1-2 Egypt

14/06/23

19:00

Ethiopia 0-0 Malawi

20/06/23

15:00

Egypt 1-0 Ethiopia

08/09/23

17:00

Malawi 2-2 Guinea

09/09/23

14:00


Group E

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Ghana

6

3

3

0

5

12

2.

Angola

6

2

3

1

1

9

3.

Central African Republic

6

2

1

3

2

7

4.

Madagascar

6

0

3

3

-8

3


Group E fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Angola 2-1 Central African Republic

01/06/22

17:00

Ghana 3-0 Madagascar

01/06/22

20:00

Madagascar 1-1 Angola

05/06/22

14:00

Central African Republic 1-1 Ghana

05/06/22

14:00

Madagascar 0-3 Central African Republic

23/03/23

13:00

Ghana 1-0 Angola

23/03/23

16:00

Central African Republic 2-0 Madagascar

27/03/23

14:00

Angola 1-1 Ghana

27/03/23

17:00

Central African Republic 1-2 Angola

17/06/23

14:00

Madagascar 0-0 Ghana

18/06/23

15:00

Angola 0-0 Madagascar

07/09/23

17:00

Ghana 2-1 Central African Republic

07/09/23

17:00


Group F

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Algeria

6

5

1

0

7

16

2.

Tanzania

6

2

2

2

-1

8

3.

Uganda

6

2

1

3

-1

7

4.

Niger

6

0

2

4

-5

2


Group F fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Niger 1-1 Tanzania

04/06/22

17:00

Algeria 2-0 Uganda

04/06/22

20:00

Uganda 1-1 Niger

08/06/22

14:00

Tanzania 0-2 Algeria

08/06/22

17:00

Algeria 2-1 Niger

23/03/23

21:00

Uganda 0-1 Tanzania

24/03/23

14:00

Niger 0-1 Algeria

27/03/23

17:00

Tanzania 0-1 Uganda

28/03/23

18:00

Tanzania 1-0 Niger

18/06/23

14:00

Uganda 1-2 Algeria

18/06/23

16:00

Niger 0-2 Uganda

07/09/23

20:00

Algeria 0-0 Tanzania

07/09/23

20:00


Group G

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Mali

6

5

0

1

13

15

2.

Gambia

6

3

1

2

0

10

3.

Congo

6

2

1

3

-5

7

4.

South Sudan

6

1

0

5

-8

3


Group G fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Gambia 1-0 South Sudan

04/06/22

17:00

Mali 4-0 Congo

04/06/22

20:00

Congo 1-0 Gambia

08/06/22

17:00

South Sudan 1-3 Mali

09/06/22

14:00

Congo 1-2 South Sudan

23/03/23

16:00

Mali 2-0 Gambia

24/03/23

19:00

South Sudan 0-1 Congo

27/03/23

14:00

Gambia 1-0 Mali

28/03/23

17:00

South Sudan 2-3 Gambia

14/06/23

14:00

Congo 0-2 Mali

18/06/23

17:00

Mali 4-0 South Sudan

08/09/23

20:00

Gambia 2-2 Congo

10/09/23

20:00


Group H

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Zambia

6

4

1

1

6

13

2.

Ivory Coast

6

4

1

1

4

13

3.

Comoros

6

2

1

3

-2

7

4.

Lesotho

6

0

1

5

-8

1


Group H fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Comoros 2-0 Lesotho

03/06/22

14:00

Ivory Coast 3-1 Zambia

03/06/22

20:00

Zambia 2-1 Comoros

07/06/22

17:00

Lesotho 0-0 Ivory Coast

09/06/22

18:00

Zambia 3-1 Lesotho

23/03/23

16:00

Ivory Coast 3-1 Comoros

24/03/23

16:00

Lesotho 0-2 Zambia

26/03/23

14:00

Comoros 0-2 Ivory Coast

28/03/23

20:00

Zambia 3-0 Ivory Coast

17/06/23

14:00

Lesotho 0-1 Comoros

17/06/23

15:00

Ivory Coast 1-0 Lesotho

09/09/23

17:00

Comoros 1-1 Zambia

09/09/23

20:00


Group I

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

DR Congo

6

4

0

2

7

12

2.

Mauritania

6

3

1

2

2

10

3.

Gabon

6

2

1

3

-2

7

4.

Sudan

6

2

0

4

-7

6


Group I fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Mauritania 3-0 Sudan

04/06/22

20:00

DR Congo 0-1 Gabon

04/06/22

21:00

Gabon 0-0 Mauritania

08/06/22

17:00

Sudan 2-1 DR Congo

08/06/22

20:00

Gabon 1-0 Sudan

23/03/23

19:00

DR Congo 3-1 Mauritania

24/03/23

13:00

Sudan 1-0 Gabon

27/03/23

21:00

Mauritania 1-1 DR Congo

28/03/23

23:00

Gabon 0-2 DR Congo

18/06/23

19:00

Sudan 0-3 Mauritania

20/06/23

19:00

DR Congo 2-0 Sudan

09/09/23

17:00

Mauritania 2-1 Gabon

09/09/23

17:00


Group J

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Tunisia

6

4

1

1

10

13

2.

Equatorial Guinea

6

4

1

1

2

13

3.

Botswana

6

1

1

4

-6

4

4.

Libya

6

1

1

4

-6

4


Group J fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Libya 1-0 Botswana

01/06/22

17:00

Tunisia 4-0 Equatorial Guinea

02/06/22

20:00

Botswana 0-0 Tunisia

05/06/22

14:00

Equatorial Guinea 2-0 Libya

06/06/22

20:00

Equatorial Guinea 2-0 Botswana

24/03/23

19:00

Tunisia 3-0 Libya

24/03/23

20:30

Botswana 2-3 Equatorial Guinea

28/03/23

14:00

Libya 0-1 Tunisia

28/03/23

21:00

Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Tunisia

17/06/23

16:00

Botswana 1-0 Libya

17/06/23

17:00

Libya 1-1 Equatorial Guinea

06/09/23

20:00

Tunisia 3-0 Botswana

07/09/23

20:00


Group K

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

South Africa

4

2

1

1

1

7

2.

Morocco

3

2

0

1

2

6

3.

Liberia

3

0

1

2

-3

1

4.

Zimbabwe

0

0

0

0

0

0


Group K fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Zimbabwe vs Liberia

09/06/22

N/A

Morocco 2-1 South Africa

09/06/22

20:00

South Africa vs Zimbabwe

13/06/22

N/A

Liberia 0-2 Morocco

13/06/22

20:00

Morocco vs Zimbabwe

19/09/22

N/A

Zimbabwe vs Morocco

27/09/22

N/A

Liberia vs Zimbabwe

20/03/23

N/A

South Africa 2-2 Liberia

24/03/23

16:00

Zimbabwe vs South Africa

28/03/23

N/A

Liberia 1-2 South Africa

28/03/23

17:00

South Africa 2-1 Morocco

17/06/23

16:00

Morocco P-P Liberia

09/09/23

20:00


Group L

Position

Nation

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

Goal difference

Points

1.

Senegal

6

4

2

0

8

14

2.

Mozambique

6

3

1

2

-1

10

3.

Benin

6

1

2

3

-1

5

4.

Rwanda

6

0

3

3

-6

3


Group L fixtures

Match

Date

Time (UK)

Mozambique 1-1 Rwanda

02/06/22

17:00

Senegal 3-1 Benin

04/06/22

20:00

Rwanda 0-1 Senegal

07/06/22

20:00

Benin 0-1 Mozambique

08/06/22

20:00

Benin 1-1 Rwanda

22/03/23

16:00

Senegal 51 Mozambique

24/03/23

19:00

Mozambique 0-1 Senegal

28/03/23

17:00

Rwanda 0-3 Benin

29/03/23

14:00

Benin 1-1 Senegal

17/06/23

20:00

Rwanda 0-2 Mozambique

18/06/23

14:00

Mozambique 3-2 Benin

09/09/23

14:00

Senegal 1-1 Rwanda

09/09/23

20:00


AFCON 2023 qualifying top scorers

Player

Country

Goals

Victor Osimhen

Nigeria

10

Louis Mafouta

Central African Republic

5

Patson Daka

Zambia

5

Youssef Msakni

Tunisia

5

Sadio Mane

Senegal

5

Dango Ouattara

Burkina Faso

4

Peter Shalulile

Namibia

4


When is AFCON 2023?

Confusingly enough, AFCON 2023 begins in 2024. The tournament was originally scheduled for the Northern Hemisphere summer of 2023 but had to be pushed back to avoid the Ivory Coast rainy season. "We cannot take the risk," Motsepe warned.

The rescheduled tournament will instead take place between 13 January and 11 February 2024, right in the middle of the 2023/24 club season for most of Europe.

After a public tender, it was decided the tournament would be held in six different stadiums dotted around five Ivorian cities; Abidjan, San Pedro, Yamoussoukro, Bouake and Korhogo.