2018 African Nations Championship qualification
The 2018 African Nations Championship qualification was a men's football competition which decided the participating teams of the 2018 African Nations Championship. Only national team players who are playing in their country's own domestic league are eligible to compete in the tournament.
A total of 16 teams qualified to play in the final tournament.
Teams
A total of 48 CAF member national teams entered the qualifying rounds, split into zones according to their regional affiliations.| Zone | Spots | Teams entering qualification | Did not enter |
| [|North Zone] | 2 spots |
| |
| West A Zone | 2 spots |
| |
| West B Zone | 3 spots |
| |
| Central Zone | 3 spots |
| |
| Central-East Zone | 3 spots |
| |
| South Zone | 3 spots |
| |
| Total | 16 spots | 48 teams |
;Notes
- Teams in bold qualified for the final tournament.
- Central African Republic were excluded by the CAF from participating because of their withdrawal against DR Congo in the 2016 African Nations Championship qualification.
- Chad withdrew on 27 March 2016, but however, on 24 May 2016, Chad announced that they would not be able to qualify for CHAN 2018, and São Tomé and Príncipe officially entered the qualification, along with Equatorial Guinea.
- Egypt were expected to withdraw from the CHAN 2018, but however, on 4 June 2016, it was announced that Egypt would participate in the CHAN 2018 qualification.
- On 12 March 2017, the Football Association of Malawi announced their senior national football team would withdraw from the competition due to the lack of funding. However, they later announced its reversal of this decision and would continue to compete.
- Kenya were the original hosts and would have qualified automatically. However, on 23 September 2017, the CAF decided to withdraw their hosting rights due to a lack of progress with preparations.
- Morocco were named as the new hosts on 14 October 2017. Since they had already qualified in the North Zone, their spot in the final tournament was re-allocated to Egypt, which lost to Morocco in the North Zone final qualifying round. However, Egypt declined to participate citing a "congested domestic calendar". As a result, the spot was reverted to Central-East Zone, and would go to the winner of a play-off between Ethiopia and Rwanda, the two teams which lost in the Central-East Zone final qualifying round.
Schedule
The schedule of the qualifying rounds is as follows.
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.North Zone
- All four teams entered the first round.
First round
West A Zone
- All eight teams entered the first round.
First round
Second round
Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.West B Zone
- Two teams entered the first round.
- Five teams entered the second round.
First round
Second round
Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.Central Zone
- All six teams entered the first round.
First round
Central-East Zone
- Two teams entered the first round.
- Seven teams entered the second round.
First round
Second round
Third round
Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.Play-off
Winner qualifies for 2018 African Nations Championship.South Zone
- Four teams entered the first round.
- Ten teams entered the second round.
First round
Second round
Third round
Winners qualify for 2018 African Nations Championship.Qualified teams
The following 16 teams qualified for the final tournament.| Team | Qualifying zone | Qualified on | Previous appearances in African Nations Championship1 |
| North Zone | 2 | ||
| North Zone | 2 | ||
| West A Zone | 1 | ||
| West A Zone | 1 | ||
| West B Zone | 2 | ||
| West B Zone | 3 | ||
| West B Zone | 1 | ||
| Central Zone | 0 | ||
| Central Zone | 1 | ||
| Central Zone | 2 | ||
| Central-East Zone | 3 | ||
| Central-East Zone | 1 | ||
| Central-East Zone | 2 | ||
| South Zone | 2 | ||
| South Zone | 0 | ||
| South Zone | 2 |
Goalscorers
;8 goals;4 goals
;3 goals
;2 goals
- Job
- Mohamed Sydney Sylla
- Mohamed Sorel Camara
- Mohamed N'Diaye
- Ibrahima Sory Sankhon
- Muaid Ellafi
- Muna Katupose
- Hendrik Somaeb
- Ryan Moon
- Gift Motupa
- Leon Uso Khamis
- James Moga
- Saifeldin Malik Bakhit
- Koidjo Sewonou
- Muzamiru Mutyaba
- Derrick Nsibambi
- Clatous Chama
- Brian Mwila
- Sofiane Bendebka
- Oussama Darfalou
- Geraldo
- Dani Massunguna
- Vá
- Waris Aboki
- Marcelin Koukpo
- Mama Seibou
- Herman Nikiema
- Ilasse Sawadogo
- Raphaël Messi Bouli
- Raymond Fosso
- Armel Lionel Ngondji
- Franck Pangop
- Raidou Boina Bacar
- Chadhuli Mradabi
- Ibroihim Youssouf
- Mohamed Youssouf
- Jaures Ngombe
- ?
- Jean-Marc Makusu Mundele
- Ahmed El Sheikh
- Aschalew Girma
- Mulualem Mesfin
- Abdurahman Mubarak
- Abubakher Sanni
- Sadick Adams
- Felix Addo
- Gideon Waja
- Seydouba Bissiri Camara
- Mamady Diawara
- Juca
- Fabius Dosso
- Banfa Sylla
- Raboama Koloti
- Christopher Jackson
- Bela
- Morelin Raveloarisona
- Aboubacar Diarra
- Mandala Konté
- Gouné Niangadou
- Boubacar Bagili
- Mohamed Yaly Dellahi
- Abdoulaye Sileye Gaye
- Karamogho Moussa
- Moussa Samba
- Marco Dorza
- Jonathan Édouard
- Emmanuel Vincent Jean
- Kevin Perticots
- Francis Rasolofonirina
- Badr Banoun
- Badr Boulahroud
- Jawad El Yamiq
- Abderrahim Makran
- Maninho
- Salomão
- Idrissa Halidou Garba
- Imrana Seyni
- Rabiu Ali
- Kingsley Eduwo
- Abeddy Biramahire
- Muhadjiri Hakizimana
- Thierry Manzi
- Yannick Mukunzi
- Dominique Savio Nshuti
- Eric Rutanga
- Sidy Bara Diop
- Daouda Guèye Diémé
- Assane Mbodj
- Alassane Ndao
- Leeroy Corallie
- Yannick Manoo
- Kemson Fofanah
- Nathaniel Fullah
- Abas Amin Mohamed
- Elsamani Saadeldin
- Mario Booysen
- Duku Wurube
- Himid Mao
- Fackson Kapumbu
- Martin Phiri
- Simon Silwimba
- Prince Dube