The qualification phase for the 2014 African Nations Championship was played from November 2012 to August 2013. Qualification was divided into the CAF Regional Zones. Each zone had either two or three teams that qualified for the final tournament in South Africa.[1]
The preliminary round winner qualify for the first round.
Ghana, Niger, Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria and Benin receive a bye and advance directly to the first round.[2]
The two preliminary round winners qualify for the first round.
Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania receive a bye and advance directly to the first round.[2]
The two preliminary round winners qualify for the first round.
Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe receive a bye and advance directly to the first round.[2]
Note: Mozambique was not included in the initial draw published by CAF on June 9, 2012,[10] and Seychelles was supposed to also receive a bye and advance directly to the first round, but then Mozambique was included to play a preliminary round against Seychelles, the qualifier taking the spot in the first round which was firstly drawn for Seychelles (vs. Namibia).[citation needed]