Former champions and finalists among nations seeking long-awaited AFCON return
The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations has welcomed a growing number of nations to its finals in recent years, but several sides with significant history in the competition have found themselves on the outside looking in.
Across the last five editions – Gabon 2017, Egypt 2019, Cameroon 2021, Côte d’Ivoire 2023 and Morocco 2025 – a number of former participants have failed to qualify.
Among them are former champions Congo and 1982 runners-up Libya, while Niger, Liberia and Rwanda have also endured lengthy waits to return to African football’s greatest stage.
As the qualifiers for the 2027 edition in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania kick-off later this month, here are five teams hoping to get back to the biggest stage on the continent.
CONGO – Last appearance: 2015
The most decorated nation on the list, Congo have one of the great chapters in TotalEnergies CAF AFCON history having been crowned African champions in 1972.
The Red Devils were also regular contenders during that era, appearing at the finals in 1968, 1972, 1974 and 1978, before later returning in 1992 and 2000.
They then endured a 15-year absence before Claude Le Roy masterminded their qualification for Equatorial Guinea 2015, when they produced an excellent tournament.
Congo topped a group containing hosts Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Burkina Faso before bowing out 4-2 to neighbours DR Congo in a thrilling quarter-final. It was their seventh appearance at the continental finals.
They have not been back since, missing five consecutive editions from 2017 to 2025. Their latest qualifying campaign ended with a third-place finish behind South Africa and Uganda in the race for Morocco 2025.
NIGER – Last appearance: 2013
Niger enjoyed their finest period at the start of the previous decade when they qualified for back-to-back TotalEnergies CAF AFCON tournaments.
The Mena made their debut at Gabon and Equatorial Guinea 2012 and immediately followed that with another appearance in South Africa a year later. Those remain their only two qualifications.
There were signs in the Morocco 2025 qualifiers that another breakthrough may not be far away.
Niger produced a superb 4-0 victory over Sudan and then defeated Ghana 2-1 in Accra on the final matchday, but Sudan's draw with Angola meant the Mena finished just a point short of qualification.
They have now missed six successive tournaments, including each of the last five.
LIBYA – Last appearance: 2012
Libya may only have appeared at three TotalEnergies CAF AFCON tournaments, but their pedigree includes a run all the way to the final.
As hosts in 1982, the Mediterranean Knights reached the decider before losing to Ghana on penalties, and they later returned to the finals in 2006 and 2012.
Their 2012 appearance remains their last. That means Libya have now missed seven successive editions, including the most recent five, an especially notable absence given the strength and tradition of football in North Africa.
They again came up short in qualifying for Morocco 2025, finishing fourth in a competitive group behind Nigeria, Benin and Rwanda. A goalless draw at home to Benin on the final matchday ended their hopes.
RWANDA – Last appearance: 2004
Few countries came closer to ending their wait for Morocco 2025 than Rwanda. Amavubi have only appeared once at the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, at Tunisia 2004, but made their presence felt with a victory over DR Congo and a draw against Guinea before narrowly missing out on the knockout stages.
More than two decades later, they almost made it back. Rwanda stunned Nigeria with a 2-1 victory in Uyo on the final day of qualifying for Morocco 2025 to finish on eight points – level with Benin.
But Benin took the second qualification place on the head-to-head record, extending Rwanda's wait for a second finals appearance.
LIBERIA – Last appearance: 2002
Liberia's two appearances came during the era of their greatest-ever player, George Weah. The Lone Stars made their TotalEnergies CAF AFCON debut in South Africa in 1996 and returned six years later for Mali 2002.
They came close to progressing on both occasions. Liberia defeated Gabon 2-1 on debut in 1996, while in 2002 they drew with hosts Mali and Algeria before a narrow defeat to Nigeria ended their hopes. Weah was among the scorers during that latter tournament.
There has been no return since. Liberia were again unable to end the drought in the Morocco 2025 qualifiers, finishing behind Algeria, Equatorial Guinea and Togo in Group E.