South Africa, Benin, DR Congo, Tanzania and Zimbabwe took the last five places in the finals of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (21 June-19 July) on 24 March. We now know the 24 teams that will play the CAN 2019. Burkina Faso, Gabon, Togo and Zambia will be the main absentees in Egypt.

It took 144 matches and 24 months of waiting to know the teams that will play the next African Cup of Nations, the first with 24 countries. The CAN 2019 qualifiers ended on March 24, almost two years to the day after their beginning.

DR Congo will be there

Five places in the final phase remained in play, this Sunday. They went to South Africa, Benin, DRC, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. The South Africans won the final ticket by beating the Libyans 2-1 in group E. The Tanzanians, they had made the case against Uganda (3-0) in the group L.

In Group G, the most undecided of these playoffs, Zimbabwe and DR Congo have reached the milestone. Zimbabweans ruined the hopes of Congo's « Diables rouges » du Congo (2-0)while their DRC neighbors pulled out against Liberia (1-0).

Benin is back

In Group D, the Beninese took the best (2-1) over the Togolese as well as the second ticket for the CAN 2019 - the first being already promised to Algeria. Les « Ecureuils »will make their big comeback in the African Cup of Nations, after nine years of absence.

On the other hand, Togo's star striker Emmanuel Adebayor and the « coach of Eperviers, Frenchman Claude Le Roy, will not take part this summer.

Another great figure of African football will not be at CAN 2019: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. His Gabon team will be among the main absentees during the 32nd edition of the tournament. A list that also includes Burkina Faso, finalist in 2013 and 3r in 2017, as well as Zambia, winner of the CAN 2012

The CAN 2019 draw will take place without these countries on April 12 in Gizeh. A draw during which the 24 qualifiers will be divided into six groups of four teams.

The 24 qualified

Survivor of the previous edition:

  • Cameroon
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Senegal
  • Tunisia
  • Algeria
  • Zimbabwe
  • Democratic Republic of Congo
  • Morocco
  • Ivory Coast
  • Egypt
  • Ghana
  • Mali
  • Uganda

Back to the competition:

  • Nigeria (victorious in 2013)
  • Angola (qualified in 2013)
  • Guinea (qualified in 2015)
  • Namibia (qualified in 2008)

  • South Africa (qualified in 2015)
  • Kenya (qualified in 2004)
  • Tanzania (qualified in 1980)

  • Benin (qualified in 2010)

Present for their first time:



  • Madagascar

  • Burundi

  • Mauritania.

(CKS/Yes)