2008 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

This page details the process of qualifying for the 2008 African Cup of Nations. 48 African nations, including hosts Ghana, entered the competition. Ghana automatically qualified as host country.

Qualified teams

The 16 qualified teams are:
*fb|GHA as hosts.
*fb|CIV as group 1 winner.
*fb|EGY as group 2 winner.
*fb|NGA as group 3 winner.
*fb|SUD as group 4 winner.
*fb|CMR as group 5 winner.
*fb|ANG as group 6 winner.
*fb|SEN as group 7 winner.
*fb|GUI as group 8 winner.
*fb|MLI as group 9 winner.
*fb|NAM as group 10 winner.
*fb|ZMB as group 11 winner.
*fb|MAR as group 12 winner.
*fb|TUN, fb|BEN, and fb|RSA as the three best runners-up from groups 2-11.

Teams that did not enter

The following CAF member national teams decided not to enter or were not allowed to enter the African Nations Cup 2008 qualifying rounds (World Ranking from May 16, 2007):
*fb|CTA [180]
*fb|COM [182]
*fb|GNB [187] (excluded due to missing payments)
*fb|SOM [192]
*fb|STP [199]

Groups

The 47 nations were divided into 11 groups of four teams and 1 group of 3 teams, with the 12 group winners and the best 3 runners-up from groups with four teams (originally groups 1-11, now groups 2-11 after the withdrawal of Djibouti from group 1) qualifying for the finals. Qualifying took place between September 2, 2006 and October 13, 2007.

Group 1

footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|UGA
score = 3 - 0
team2 = fb|LES|1987
goals1 = Geoffrey Massa goal|29, goal|42
David Obua goal|57|pen.
goals2 =
stadium = Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Kampala----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|NGA
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|NIG
goals1 = Aiyegbeni Yakubu goal|27
Christian Obodo goal|60
goals2 =
stadium = Abuja Stadium, Abuja----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|LES
score = 0 - 1
team2 = fb|NGA
goals1 =
goals2 = Aiyegbeni Yakubu goal|50
stadium = Setsoto Stadium, Maseru----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|NIG
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|UGA
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Général Seyni Kountché Stadion, Niamey----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 24 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|NGA
score = 1 - 0
team2 = fb|UGA
goals1 = Nwankwo Kanu goal|73
goals2 =
stadium = MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 25 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|LES
score = 3 - 1
team2 = fb|NIG
goals1 = Refiloe Potse goal|22, goal|44
Mpitsa Marai goal|75
goals2 = Daouda Kamilou goal|80
stadium = Setsoto National Stadium, Maseru----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|UGA
score = 2 - 1
team2 = fb|NGA
goals1 = David Obua goal|52|pen.
Ibrahim Sekagya goal|65|pen.
goals2 = John Utaka goal|25
stadium = Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Kampala----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|NIG
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|LES
goals1 = Hamidou Djibo goal|10 Souliman Sako goal|36
goals2 =
stadium = Général Seyni Kountché Stadion, Niamey----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 17 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|NIG
score = 1 - 3
team2 = fb|NGA
goals1 = Daouda Kamilou goal|68
goals2 = Nwankwo Kanu goal|40
Taye Taiwo goal|70
Aiyegbeni Yakubu goal|89
stadium = Général Seyni Kountché Stadion, Niamey----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 19 June, 2007 [Postponed from 17 June, 2007 after the match officials failed to arrive on time. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6761641.stm] ]
team1 = fb-rt|LES
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|UGA
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Setsoto National Stadium, Maseru----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 September, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|NGA
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|LES
goals1 = Stephen Makinwa goal|42
Ikechukwu Uche goal|73
goals2 =
stadium = Warri Township Stadium, Warri----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 September, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|UGA
score = 3 - 1
team2 = fb|NIG
goals1 = David Obua goal|2|pen., goal|77, goal|86
goals2 = Seydou Idrissa goal|45
stadium = Nelson Mandela National Stadium, Kampala

Group 4

footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|KEN
score = 1 - 2
team2 = fb|ERI
goals1 = Robert Mambo Mumba goal|65
goals2 = Arnold Origi goal|60|o.g.
Yednekatchew Shimangus goal|68
stadium = Moi International Sports Centre, Nairobi----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|SWZ
score = 0 - 2
team2 = fb|ANG
goals1 =
goals2 = Jamba goal|21 Locó goal|80
stadium = Somholo National Stadium, Lobamba ----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 7 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|ERI
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|SWZ
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Asmara Stadium, Asmara----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|ANG
score = 3 - 1
team2 = fb|KEN
goals1 = Flávio goal|27, goal|68
Mateus goal|60
goals2 = Boniface Ambani goal|81
stadium = Estadio Nacional da Cidadela Desportiva, Luanda----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 25 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|ANG
score = 6 - 1
team2 = fb|ERI
goals1 = Flávio goal|26, goal|69
Mantorras goal|35
Ze Kalanga goal|41
Mendonça goal|51
Figueiredo goal|80
goals2 = Tenese Gay goal|58
stadium = Estadio Nacional da Cidadela Desportiva, Luanda----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 25 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|KEN
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|SWZ
goals1 = McDonald Mariga goal|51
Ibrahim Shikanda goal|75
goals2 =
stadium = Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|ERI
score = 1 - 1
team2 = fb|ANG
goals1 = Elias Ali Abubeker goal|17
goals2 = Maurito goal|88
stadium = Asmara Stadium, Asmara----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|SWZ
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|KEN
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Somholo National Stadium, Lobamba----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 16 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|ERI
score = 1 - 0
team2 = fb|KEN
goals1 = Berhane Aregay goal|80
goals2 =
stadium = Asmara Stadium, Asmara----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 17 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|ANG
score = 3 - 0
team2 = fb|SWZ
goals1 = Figueiredo goal|18 Love goal|25 Flávio goal|56
goals2 =
stadium = Estadio Nacional da Cidadela Desportiva, Luanda----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 September, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|KEN
score = 2 - 1
team2 = fb|ANG
goals1 = Patrick Oboya goal|18
Dennis Oliech goal|87
goals2 = Manucho goal|35
stadium = Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 9 September, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|SWZ
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|ERI
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Trade Fair Ground, Manzini

Group 7

footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|SLE
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|MLI
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = National Brookfields Stadium, Freetown----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|TOG
score = 2 - 1
team2 = fb|BEN
goals1 = Thomas Dossevi goal|15
Komlan Amewou goal|75
goals2 = Abou Maiga goal|85
stadium = Stade de Kégué, Lome----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|BEN
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|SLE
goals1 = Rachad Chitou goal|22
Mouritala Ogunbiyi goal|77
goals2 =
stadium = Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 8 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|MLI
score = 1 - 0
team2 = fb|TOG
goals1 = Dramane Traoré goal|90+1
goals2 =
stadium = Stade 26 mars, Bamako----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 24 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|TOG
score = 3 - 1
team2 = fb|SLE
goals1 = Emmanuel Adebayor goal|37, goal|85
Adekambi Olufade goal|62
goals2 = Mohamed Kallon goal|77
stadium = Stade Municipal, Lome----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 25 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|MLI
score = 1 - 1
team2 = fb|BEN
goals1 = Frederic Kanoute goal|47|pen.
goals2 = Mouritala Ogunbiyi goal|44
stadium = Stade 26 mars, Bamako----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|SLE
score = 0 - 1
team2 = fb|TOG
goals1 =
goals2 = Yao Junior Senaya goal|78
stadium = National Brookfields Stadium, Freetown----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 3 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|BEN
score = 0 - 0
team2 = fb|MLI
goals1 =
goals2 =
stadium = Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 17 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|BEN
score = 4 - 1
team2 = fb|TOG
goals1 = Razak Omotoyossi goal|44, goal|52
Stéphane Sessegnon goal|47
Mouritala Ogunbiyi goal|58
goals2 = Adekambi Olufade goal|75
stadium = Stade de l'Amitié, Cotonou----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 17 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|MLI
score = 6 - 0
team2 = fb|SLE
goals1 = Djibril Sidibe goal|22|pen.
Seydou Keita goal|68, goal|87
Boucader Diallo goal|72, goal|89
Toure Basala goal|90
goals2 =
stadium = Stade 26 mars, Bamako----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 12 October, 2007Both matches postponed from 8 September, 2007 due to general elections in Sierra Leone. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6980297.stm] ]
team1 = fb-rt|SLE
score = 0 - 2
team2 = fb|BEN
goals1 =
goals2 = Oumar Tchomogo goal|9, goal|63
stadium = National Brookfields Stadium, Freetown----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 12 October, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|TOG
score = 0 - 2
team2 = fb|MLI
goals1 =
goals2 = Freddie Kanoute goal|41
Mamady Sidibe goal|90
stadium = Stade de Kégué, Lome

Group 10

footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 September, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|MAR
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|MWI
goals1 = Marouane Chamakh goal|50
Mbark Boussoufa goal|72
goals2 =
stadium = Stade Moulay Abdellah, Rabat----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 7 October, 2006
team1 = fb-rt|MWI
score = 1 - 0
team2 = fb|ZIM
goals1 = Moses Chavula goal|33
goals2 =
stadium = Kamazu Stadium, Blantyre----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 25 March, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|ZIM
score = 1 - 1
team2 = fb|MAR
goals1 = Esrom Nyandoro goal|82
goals2 = Youssouf Hadji goal|7
stadium = Rufaro Stadium, Harare----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 2 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|MAR
score = 2 - 0
team2 = fb|ZIM
goals1 = Marouane Chamakh goal|3
Youssef Hadji goal|26
goals2 =
stadium = Stade Mohamed V, Casablanca----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 16 June, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|MWI
score = 0 - 1
team2 = fb|MAR
goals1 =
goals2 = Bouchaib El Moubarki goal|12
stadium = Kamazu Stadium, Blantyre----footballbox
bg = #eeeeee
date = 9 September, 2007
team1 = fb-rt|ZIM
score = 3 - 1
team2 = fb|MWI
goals1 = Kingstone Nkatha goal|24
Richard Mteki goal|54
Method Mwanjali goal|61
goals2 = Esau Kanyenda goal|43
stadium = Barbourfields Stadium, Bulawayo

Best runners-up (groups 2-11)

The best 3 runners-up from groups with four teams (groups 2-11) would qualify for the finals.

Top goalscorers

Source: [http://www.ghanacan2008.com/qualify/index.php Official site - qualifying]

References

External links

* [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/4744268.stm Draw details at BBC Sport]
* [http://www.cafonline.com/?lng=1&module=acceuilcompetition&cmpt=21 2008 African Nations Cup qualifying at CAFOnline.com]
* [http://www.rsssf.com/tables/08a.html 2008 African Nations Cup at RSSSF]
* [http://nationscup.mtnfootball.com/live/index.php Official MTN African Cup of Nations website]
* [http://sports.thinkghana.com/ghanacan2008 Ghana CAN 2008 - African Cup of Nations News]
* [http://www.ghanacan2008.com/qualify/index.php Official site - qualifying]