The current champions Senegal are one of six countries that have already qualified early for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Six teams, including the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire, have already purchased tickets as the qualification stage for the largest football tournament on the continent comes to a close with two games left.
Sports Brief examines the nations that have already confirmed their attendance in Ivory Coast, with the remaining 17 nations hoping to join the festivities later.
Morocco
Arguably the best nation on the continent, the Atlas Lions unsurprisingly secured an early qualification for the flagship tournament next year on the back of a memorable World Cup run.
Walid Regragui’s charges booked their spot in Cote d’Ivoire without kicking a ball in the recent qualifiers.
Due to the permutations of Group K, Morocco punched their ticket after sealing six points in two games.
Algeria
The two-time African champions are among the few nations to have punched their ticket to next year’s African Cup of Nations. Les Fennecs secured a ticket to the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 victory over Niger.
The win was their fourth in a row in Group F and sees Djamel Belmadi’s side cement their hold at the summit of the group with a 100 per cent record, winning all four of their group games.
For Algeria, it was another vital victory that gives them a chance to battle for a title they lost in Cameroon last year.
Senegal
Defending champions Senegal have also qualified for the defence of their title after edging out Mozambique 1-0 in Maputo.
The West African nation have been flawless throughout the qualifiers, bagging a maximum of 12 points out of four group games.
Aliou Cisse’s boys will contest Morocco’s claim as the best side on the continent, with the 2023 AFCON presenting the best opportunity to affirm the claim.
South Africa Bafana Bafana made it to the tournament with a 2-1 win over Liberia in Monrovia.
Hugo Broos’s charges make a return to the biennial competition after agonizingly missing out on the last edition in Cameroon.
The Belgian manager, who led Cameroon to its fifth continental crown, has already disclosed his targets for next year’s competition, per CAFOnline.
Burkina Faso
The Stallions of Burkina Faso just almost made it to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, sharing the spoils with Togo on Tuesday.
When the qualifiers resume in June, Burkina Faso will play Cape Verde in a top-of-the-table matchup.
Tunisia
The Carthage Eagles joined the six nations to book their spot in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-0 victory over Libya in Benghazi on Tuesday night.
They now lead Group J by 10 points, one point better than second-placed Equatorial Guinea and seven points better than Libya, with two rounds of matches remaining.
The fact that Tunisia qualified while remaining unbeaten and not giving up a goal thrilled head coach Jalel Kadri.