A total of 35 (out of 54) CAF member national teams entered the qualifying rounds. The draw was held on 8 June 2023 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.
[1]
In the first round, the 6 teams were drawn into 3 ties to play against each other.
In the second round, the 3 first round winners and the 29 teams receiving byes to the second round were allocated into 16 ties based on the first round tie numbers, with 3 first round winners playing against the 3 teams receiving byes, and the other 26 first round winners playing against each other.
In the third round, the 16 second round winners were allocated into eight ties based on the second round tie numbers.
In the fourth round, the eight third round winners were allocated into four ties based on the third round tie numbers.
Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If the aggregate score was tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied, and if still tied, the penalty shoot-out (no extra time) would be used to determine the winner.[2]
Eswatini won on walkover and advanced to the third round after Gabon withdrew prior to the first leg without citing lack of preparation due to no local championship being contested.[3]
Nigeria won on walkover and advanced to the third round after Mauritius withdrew prior to the first leg without providing a reason for their withdrawal.