AFCON 2023 Qualifying: how things stand before March’s matches
44 African nations will be in action in the next fortnight, vying to secure their ticket to the continent’s BIGGEST and most coveted international football spectacle. The next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is hosted in Côte d'Ivoire, and there is still plenty of work to do for the countries that dream of being there. When is your favourite nation in action, and how do the groups look ahead of another set of crunch qualifiers?
Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying: group-by-group recaps and upcoming fixtures
Group A
Nigeria, champions of Africa on 3 occasions in their history, will face Guinea-Bissau in Abuja with the quest of extending their 100% record. Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen, on fire for Napoli with 21 goals in 23 Serie A games this season, already has 5 goals in qualifying. He’s one of the hottest players on the planet.
Sierra Leone, meanwhile, are already arguably in must-win territory. They’ll be targeting a BIG win over São Tomé and Príncipe to boost their goal difference in case they finish level with Guinea-Bissau on identical head-to-head records and that’s needed to separate them.
São Tomé and Príncipe have conceded 15 goals in their 2 qualifiers so far, including 10 to Nigeria’s Super Eagles last June. Their qualification prospects look bleak, to put it mildly.
Group B
Togo’s qualifying campaign started poorly with a 2-2 home draw with Eswatini and a 2-0 defeat to Cape Verde. Now, their next 2 assignments come in the shape of a double-header with table-toppers Burkina Faso. The Stallions have won both of their qualifiers so far and another 3 points against the Togolese would put them in a commanding position.
Watch out for Burkinabe star Edmond Tapsoba. The imposing 24-year-old Bayer Leverkusen centre back is sought after around Europe. Dango Ouattara, now with Bournemouth, bagged a brace for Burkina Faso in their 3-1 win against Eswatini. He has pace to burn in wide areas.
Cape Verde, who have improved dramatically to participate in 3 of the last 5 AFCONs, will be no pushovers either. They beat Togo 2-0 on matchday 2, and now have a pair of matches against Eswatini. The Cape Verdeans appear to be in the box seat behind Burkina Faso.
Group C
Cameroon, one of Africa’s most celebrated footballing nations and continental champions on 5 occasions, will be targeting 6 points in 2 forthcoming matches against Namibia to put themselves in an unassailable position in Group C. The Indomitable Lions have played just 1 group game so far in this 3-team section, beating Burundi 1-0 thanks to a strike from Rennes striker Karl Toko Ekambi in a dominant display.
Group D
It might not have looked like it on paper, but Group D may well pan out to be one of the most competitive groups. All 4 sides are level on 3 points apiece with all to play for in the next round of fixtures.
Egypt, the relative giants in this section and African champions on a record 7 occasions, will be targeting 3 points from their home clash with Malawi before the Pharaohs travel for the return fixture. Malawi’s victory over Ethiopia and injury-time defeat to Guinea suggest they can be confident of ruffling a few famous feathers though.
Group E
Ghana’s Black Stars currently lead the way in Group E ahead of Angola on goal difference. If they can collect 3 points against the Angolans in Kumasi, avoiding defeat in the return fixture would give them a clear lead in the group. Angola sit level with Ghana on 4 points and also remain unbeaten after 2 games, and so they currently appear the sides most likely to advance. It’s still early days however.
Ajax’s versatile talent Mohammed Kudus scored for Ghana away to the Central African Republic in a 1-1 draw, and who knows how valuable that result may turn out to be. Points on the road in Africa are precious. Kudus was also on the scoresheet in the opener against Madagascar, as was exciting Cremonese youngster Felix Afena-Gyan, in a 3-1 Ghana win.
Group F
The newly-built Nelson Mandela Stadium in Baraki, a suburb of Algiers, plays host to a clash between 2019 African champions Algeria and Niger before the reverse fixture a few days later. The Fennec Foxes can cement control of Group F with a pair of wins in those games.
Tanzania and Uganda both need good results against one another to kickstart their campaigns. They have identical records after 2 games, both scoring just 1 goal and conceding 3. Tanzanian striker George Mpole’s goal in the first minute against Niger was only enough for a point.
An imminent double-header between the Taifa Stars and the Cranes gives both the opportunity to establish themselves as Algeria’s strongest challengers.
Group G
Mali have started their Group G qualifying campaign in blistering fashion, scoring 7 goals and securing 6 points from 6 on offer. Lorient forward Ibrahima Kone was sent off late in their 3-1 win away to South Sudan. Al Ahly holding midfielder Aliou Dieng was among the goals that day, as was RB Salzburg striker Sékou Koïta.
Gambia’s chances will depend on their wide men. Metz winger Ablie Jallow scored the winner against South Sudan, and Bologna attacker Musa Barrow is also lightning quick. We’ll find out a lot about the Scorpions’ credentials after 2 upcoming meetings with high-flying Mali, who look best placed to qualify.
It’s wide open as to who could advance alongside them. Gambia and Congo have 3 points apiece, so the picture should look a lot clearer after this month’s matches.
Group H
Zambia and Comoros have 3 points each from their first 2 games, and trail leaders Côte d'Ivoire by a point.
Leicester City striker Patson Daka scored a late consolation in Chipolopolo’s 3-1 defeat against Côte d'Ivoire, but they followed it up with a win from behind against Comoros. They’ll be looking to put Lesotho to the sword in 2 upcoming meetings. If they can do that, they’ll hope for Côte d'Ivoire to do them a few favours by beating Comoros.
With Côte d'Ivoire already automatically qualified for the showpiece as hosts, it’s a straight shootout between Zambia, Comoros and Lesotho for the other qualifying spot.
Group I
DR Congo have work to do if they are to climb back into contention in Group I. They’ve got 0 points from 2 games, while early leaders Mauritania and Gabon have 4 apiece. DRC now face Mauritania twice, and the Mauritanians have yet to concede a single goal in qualifying.
This month’s other double header is between Gabon and Sudan, with the latter only a point off the pace despite a 3-0 defeat to Mauritania in their opener.
Group J
Another highly competitive group sees an all-North African set of battles between Tunisia and Libya loom on the horizon. Tunisia, aka the Eagles of Carthage, conceded just 1 goal in 3 group games at WC22, so they’re a stubborn outfit.
They lead this group with 4 points, ahead of Libya and Equatorial Guinea on 3, with Botswana bringing up the rear with a solitary point from 2 games. They will, however, gain some confidence from a 0-0 draw at home with Tunisia on matchday 2 of qualifying.
Group K
Liberia and South Africa both lost to Morocco, making their upcoming meetings pivotal to their qualification chances. New Burnley striker Lyle Foster will be eager to make an impression for Bafana Bafana against the Liberians on his recall to the national side.
Morocco and Sevilla target man Youssef En-Nesyri scored in each of the Atlas Lions’ 2 qualifiers so far, and they’ll no doubt be eager to build on the massive momentum generated in their run to the WC22 semi-finals. Walid Regragui’s side’s chances of qualification already look rock solid and, as this is a 3-team group, they have the month off to focus on friendlies.
Group L
Senegal’s Lions of Teranga have set a perfect pace in Group L so far, winning both of their games and scoring 4 times in the process. Bayern Munich superstar Sadio Mane hit a hat-trick for the defending African champions in their 3-1 win over Benin on matchday 1.
Mozambique have claimed 4 points after an impressive start to qualifying, while Rwanda (1 point) and Benin (0 points) have work to do. An upcoming double-header between Rwanda and Benin is therefore critical in terms of qualification, especially as the Mozambique side they’re both pursuing have to face Senegal twice this month.
