Football
Ed Dove, Special to ESPN 3y

Africa Cup of Nations 2022 Qualifying: Who's in? Who's out?

Four rounds of matches down, two to go in the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign, and the 12 groups have firmly taken shape.

A quartet of nations have already confirmed their place at the biennial continental showpiece to join hosts Cameroon, but still there's much to play for ahead in the final two round of qualifiers in March.

Here's how each of the 12 groups are looking after four matchdays, and here's what each of the continent's teams need to do to avoid missing out on the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations.

Group A

Who's in?

Mali confirmed their place in the finals with a pair of victories over Namibia, taking their tally to 10 points from four matches.

Even without Moussa Marega, they were too much for the Brave Warriors, and their robust, athletic style could make them dark horses for a long run at the tournament itself.

Who's out?

With one point from four matches -- secured at home against Guinea on Sunday -- Chad are already out of the running.

What's still to play for?

Guinea, on eight points, are firmly in the driving seat to join Mali in Cameroon, even though their failure to win away in N'Djamena opens the door for third-placed Namibia.

Namibia's Brave Warriors need two wins from their outstanding two matches -- including a home fixtures against Guinea -- while hoping that Mali can defeat Guinea away on matchday five.

Group B

What's still to play for?

Burkina Faso lead the group on eight points, and are still unbeaten, although they could cede top spot away at second-placed Uganda (seven points) in their next figure.

Uganda should already have secured qualification, but the Cranes were handed a shock defeat by tiny South Sudan on Monday, with Tito Okello scoring the only goal of the game from the spot.

Malawi (four points) need to beat South Sudan (three), hope that Uganda fall to Burkina Faso, and then beat the Cranes in Blantyre to qualify.

Group C

What's still to play for?

Ghana, with two-goal Andre Ayew, dispatched Sudan at home on matchday three, but their defeat away in Omdurman on Tuesday denied them the chance to confirm qualification already.

The Black Stars will qualify with a draw against South Africa (also on nine points) away in their next match, although Sudan remain in the running. Sudan's final match, against South Africa, could be winner-takes-all if they defeat Sao Tome e Principe in late March.

Sao Tome are already eliminated after losing all four of their fixtures to date. Their -9 goal difference is the worst of any team in the qualifying campaign.

Group D

What's still to play for?

The controversy that preceded Gabon's fixture away at Gambia -- as the Panthers spent the night before the match sleeping rough at Banjul International Airport -- overshadowed a fascinating double-header, with the teams claiming one victory each.

Those results left Gambia (seven points) in pole position to qualify for their first ever major tournament, continuing the excellent work of Tom Saintfiet.

The return of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and his winner in Franceville saw Gabon retain second place, and they could seal qualification when they host third-placed Democratic Republic of Congo (six points) in March.

DRC took four points from bottom side Angola (one point) in the the latest international break, but the latter could still qualify with victories in the remaining two matchdays.

Group E

What's still to play for?

All four teams could still qualify, although Morocco are all but through. Morocco must lose both matches -- including a hammering at the hands of Burundi -- to miss out, and they will advance with a point against neighbouring Mauritania in March.

A win for either Burundi or Central African Republic when they meet in Bujumbura could take then into second place heading into the final round of fixtures.

Group F

Who's in?

Hosts Cameroon will automatically feature on home soil, but they boosted optimism of a strong showing at the tournament with six goals and six points in their latest two matches against Mozambique.

What's still to play for?

Mozambique, Cape Verde Islands (both four points) and Rwanda (two) are competing for one qualifying berth, but Mozambique are in the strongest position by virtue of the fact they've already played Cameroon twice and avoided defeat away in Cape Verde last year, scoring two away goals.

Group G

What's still to play for?

Egypt, uninspiring against Togo, and Comoros Islands stand equal atop the table on eight points, and they meet on matchday six.

Third-placed Kenya (three points) need wins and for other results to go their way in the remaining matchdays to stand any chance of progression. That's an almighty task for the Harambee Stars, who may regret replacing head coach Francis Kimanzi ahead of the double-header against Comoros.

Togo, World Cup qualifiers in 2006, are already out of contention. They have unravelled spectacularly under Claude Le Roy, and the iconic coach's job surely hangs by a thread.

Group H

Who's in?

Algeria extended their undefeated streak to 22 matches, the eighth-longest streak in the history of international football, and the longest of all international teams in the world today, with four points against Zimbabwe in the latest international break.

Those results ensured that Algeria qualified for Afcon 2021.

The reigning champions, they will be among the favourites to win the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

What's still to play for?

The other three teams in the group are all firmly in the running, although Zambia -- bottom of the pool on three points -- have it all to do after their recent malaise continued with a 1-0 defeat in Botswana.

Failure to beat Algeria at home in their next game, and a win for Zimbabwe (five points) over Botswana (four), will mean curtains for Milutin Sredojevic's Chipolopolo.

Group I

Who's in?

Back-to-back wins for Senegal against Guinea-Bissau have taken them to Cameroon, and the Teranga Lions are the only team in qualifying to boast a 100% record.

Who's out?

Eswatini. A 0-0 draw at home against Congo-Brazzaville on Monday was an admirable result, but it hasn't been enough to save the King's Shield from elimination.

What's still to play for?

Congo (seven points) and Guinea-Bissau (three) could both join Senegal, and their meeting in Bissau in matchday six could be winner-takes-all.

Group J

Who's in?

Tunisia, with their usual unfussy pragmatism, qualified for Afcon 2021 after taking four points -- not entirely convincingly -- from Tanzania.

They've qualified for the past 15 editions of the tournament, stretching back to 1994, and will be hoping to at least emulate their fourth-placed finish from 2019.

What's still to play for?

Taking a point from Tunisia at home means that Tanzania (four points), who don't need to face the group leaders again, will be confident of overhauling Equatorial Guinea (six).

Equatorial Guinea lost their first two fixtures but transformed their prospects by scoring twice in second-half stoppage-time to come from behind to defeat Libya 3-2 in North Africa before defeating the Mediterranean Knights in Malabo in the latest round of matches.

Nzalang Nacional have the wind in their sails, and their meeting with Tanzania in Malabo in March has the potential to be blockbuster.

Group K

What's still to play for?

Madagascar were the surprise package of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations cycle, qualifying for their first tournament and then defeating Nigeria en route to the quarterfinals.

They're poised to repeat the feat having amassed seven points from four matches, including a home draw against group leaders Ivory Coast on Tuesday.

Victory away at third-placed Ethiopia (six points) will take them to Cameroon, although the Walias will also fancy their chances of qualification.

Niger (three points) aren't yet out of the running, but they must beat the Ivorians at home in Niamey to remain in the hunt.

Group L

What's still to play for?

The expanded Africa Cup of Nations format sees Nigeria remain in top spot in the group, needing two more points to qualify, despite despite their pair of draws against Sierra Leone.

Their next match, against Benin away in Porto-Novo, represents a tough assignment, they shouldn't slip up at home against Lesotho.

Either Sierra Leone (three points) or Lesotho (two) could overhaul second-placed Benin (seven) with two wins.

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