49 in for 2004 Nations Cup

Cameroon will defend the trophy in 2004

49 countries have entered the qualification series for the next African Nations Cup, to be hosted by Tunisia in 2004.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced the draw at the just concluded finals in Mali.

Entrants have been divided into 13 league groups, with ten groups comprising of four teams, while the other three groups have three teams each.

• Group A - Angola, Nigeria, Djibouti, Malawi

• Group B- Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Ethiopia

• Group C- Sudan, Zambia, Benin, Tanzania

• Group D- Congo, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Mozambique

• Group E- Kenya, Togo, Mauritania, Cape Verde

• Group F- Zimbabwe, Mali, Seychelles, Eritrea

• Group G- Gabon, Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, Sierra Leone

• Group H- Lesotho, Senegal, Sao Tome, Gambia

• Group I- Libya, DR Congo, Botswana, Swaziland

• Group J- Madagascar, Egypt, Guinea Bissau, Mauritius

• Group K- Cote D'Ivoire, South Africa, Burundi

• Group L - Namibia, Algeria, Chad

• Group M- Uganda, Ghana, Rwanda

Each group winner automatically qualifies for the 2004 tournament, while the best placed runner-up from the groups of four also qualifies.

That team would be the one with the highest number of points.

If that is tied, then superior goal difference and the highest number of goals scored in the entire league series would count.

Should two or more teams have identical statistics, a play off would be arranged to determine the qualifiers.

Cameroon qualify as champions, and Tunisia qualify as hosts.

The first round of matches is due to be played in early September.