Defending champions Senegal, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia and hosts Ivory Coast are already on the list of qualified teams for next year’s African Cup of Nations finals after the last set of qualifiers in March with several more set to join them over the next week.
The penultimate round of qualifying for January’s tournament is being held between Wednesday and next Tuesday, after which the final round of qualifiers will be settled in September.
But before then, the identity of more than half of the 24-team field for the finals should be known with the possibility of at least one newcomer.
Here is SuperSport.com’s group-by-group guide to the fifth round of qualifiers:
GROUP A
Fixtures: Sao Tome e Principe v Guinea Bissau in Bissau, Wednesday; Sierra Leone v Nigeria in Monrovia, Liberia, Sunday
Standings: Nigeria (9 points), Guinea-Bissau (7), Sierra Leone (5), Sao Tome e Principe (1)
Guinea Bissau will book a fourth successive trip to the Cup of Nations finals with a win in the Lusophone derby which is, fortuitously for them, being played in Bissau after Sao Tome conceded home advantage. They, like Sierra Leone, are banned from using their own stadium because it is not up to international standards. Nigeria should seal their qualification with an away draw against the Leone Stars, especially as their hosts have had to move the game to neutral Liberia.
GROUP B
Fixtures: Cape Verde Islands v Burkina Faso in Praia, Sunday; Eswatini v Togo in Nelspruit, South Africa, Sunday
Standings: Burkina Faso (10, qualified), Cape Verde Islands (7), Eswatini (2), Togo (2)
If Cape Verde, who warmed-up with a goalless draw in a friendly against Morocco on Monday, get a home win against already qualified Burkina Faso, they will join the latter at the finals in the Ivory Coast. They could also do so in defeat if Eswatini and Togo play to a draw in their game, which is at the Mbombela Stadium. For the Swazis and Togo their clash is more about pride and avoiding the wooden spoon as both countries go in search of their first win in this preliminary competition.
GROUP C
Fixture: Burundi v Namibia in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, Tuesday
Standings: Namibia (5), Cameroon (4), Burundi (1)
Namibia can book just a fourth ever qualification if they get a point away against Burundi, although they might have already done enough after taking four points off Cameroon in their last two qualifiers in March. For them to be overhauled, Burundi would need to beat them and then get a draw from their final game in Cameroon in September. Burundi have had to move Tuesday’s match to Tanzania because they have no adequate stadium.
GROUP D
Fixtures: Guinea v Egypt in Marrakech, Morocco, Wednesday; Ethiopia v Malawi in Maputo, Mozambique, Tuesday
Standings: Egypt (9), Guinea (9), Malawi (3), Ethiopia (3)
Both Egypt and Guinea need only a draw in Wednesday’s clash in Marrakech to qualify. Guinea host the game in Morocco and Egypt are able to use seven Al Ahly players from Sunday’s African Champions League victory, if coach Rui Vitoria deems they are fresh enough to play three days later. Mohamed Salah goes up against his ex-Liverpool teammate Naby Keita, who is moving to the Bundesliga next season. Ethiopia and Malawi’s hopes are threadbare, and they could both be eliminated by the time they meet in neutral Maputo on Tuesday.
GROUP E
Fixtures: Central Africa Republic v Angola in Douala, Cameroon, Saturday; Madagascar v Ghana in Antananarivo, Sunday
Standings: Ghana (8), Central Africa Republic (7), Angola (5), Madagascar (1)
The Central Africa Republic are looking to become the 45th country to qualify for the finals and make their debut appearance in the Ivory Coast and could make that a reality on Saturday with a win over Angola. It is their home game but being played in Cameroon where they have been hosting their matches. Angola have to win to avoid elimination so it is a veritable cup final. Ghana will seal their place with a win in Madagascar, who have been poor in this campaign and are yet to post a victory but have a new coach in Frenchman Fabiano Flora.
GROUP F
Fixtures: Tanzania v Niger in Dar-es-Salaam, Sunday; Uganda v Algeria in Douala, Cameroon, Sunday
Standings: Algeria (12, qualified), Tanzania (4), Uganda (4), Niger (2)
Algeria’s 100 per cent record ensures they have already qualified from this pool, but the race for the second spot is intense with little to choose between the teams. Tanzania could take Niger out the equation with a win and with home advantage in Dar-es-Salaam, the Taifa Stars are well positioned to move into second spot unless Uganda can take points off the 2019 Cup of Nations winners. Uganda are among the bidders for the future hosting of the Cup of Nations finals but embarrassingly do not have a suitable stadium for their clash against Algeria and so are playing the game in Cameroon.
GROUP G
Fixtures: South Sudan v Gambia in Ismailia, Egypt. Wednesday; Congo v Mali in Brazzaville, Sunday
Standings: Mali (9), Congo (6), Gambia (6), South Sudan (3)
All teams still have a chance for qualification in this group, with South Sudan looking to build on March’s shock away win over Congo as they host Gambia in neutral Egypt. Gambia, however, know all about creating surprises themselves after reaching the quarterfinals at the last finals in Cameroon 18 months ago. Congo, despite losing their last home game, can join Mali at the top if they win what should be a tight contest in Brazzaville on Sunday but if Mali are victorious then they will be sure of a place in the finals.
GROUP H
Fixtures: Lesotho v Comoros Islands in Johannesburg, South Africa, Saturday; Zambia v Ivory Coast in Ndola, Saturday
Standings: Ivory Coast (10, qualified), Zambia (9), Comoros (3), Lesotho (1)
Ivory Coast qualify as hosts but are participating in the preliminaries to keep competitive. It means only one other team qualifies and Zambia are one point away from joining them in the final’ field. the pool got under way, but their points haul means they would have done so in any event. For the Comoroos to overhaul Zambia, they need to win both their remaining games, starting with already eliminated Lesotho this weekend. The Basotho host the game at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
GROUP I
Fixtures: Gabon v Democratic Republic of Congo in Franceville, Sunday; Sudan v Mauritania in Agadir, Morocco, Tuesday
Standings: Gabon (7), Sudan (6), Mauritania (5), Democratic Republic of Congo (4)
This group could go down to the wire and only be settled in September but Gabon will be hoping that the return to the side of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang ensures they qualify on Sunday. DR Congo must get at least a draw in Gabon to keep up their hopes but ideally should win while Sudan could take a giant step towards qualification with victory over Mauritania in neutral Morocco. The final round of games see Gabon go to Mauritania and DR Congo host Sudan. Wins for Gabon and Sudan in this round would settle the group.
GROUP J
Fixtures: Botswana v Libya in Francistown, Saturday; Equatorial Guinea v Tunisia in Malabo, Saturday
Standings: Tunisia (10, qualified), Equatorial Guinea (9), Libya (3), Botswana (1)
Tunisia have already booked their place in the finals and Equatorial Guinea will join them with a point from either of their two remaining matches. They host the Tunisians on Saturday and must then go to Libya, so it is not cut-and-dried. But to keep their hopes alive, the Libyans must win at already-eliminated Botswana this weekend. The Zebras have had a disappointing campaign to date, with a single point from four games.
GROUP K
Fixture: South Africa v Morocco in Johannesburg, Saturday
Standings: Morocco (6, qualified), South Africa (4, qualified), Liberia 1
This group is already decided after Bafana Bafana’s 2-1 win in Liberia three months and Saturday’s clash at Soccer city is about bragging rights … and top place in the standings. A draw would ensure Morocco of top spot while victory for Bafana would put them one point ahead but the Atlas Lions still have a game against Liberia to play in September, while Saturday’s game marks the end of Bafana’s qualifying campaign. The group was cut to three teams following Zimbabwe’s Fifa ban.
GROUP L
Fixtures: Benin v Senegal in Cotonou, Saturday; Rwanda v Mozambique in Butare, Sunday
Standings: Senegal (12, qualified), Benin (4), Mozambique (4), Rwanda (2)
Another group where top spot has been decided, but the remaining three teams are still very much in the hunt for the second qualification spot. Benin were handed the points from their draw in Rwanda in March after their hosts fielded a suspended player. That has boosted their chances although if Mozambique get a win this weekend they will still be best placed.