South Africa qualified automatically as hosts, while the remaining seven spots were determined by the qualification rounds which took place from May to July 2004. The defending champions receives no automatic qualification from this edition of the tournament onwards.
Format
Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If scores were tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would be applied and if still level, extra time would be skipped and will use the last-resort tie breaker of a penalty shoot-out.
The seven winners of the qualification round qualified for the group stage.
Qualified teams
Qualified
Did not qualify
Did not enter or withdrew
Not part of CAF
Algeria made their tournament debut at this edition.
^Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
^Mali qualified on walkover or as a lucky loser after both DR Congo and Gabon withdrew.
Format
The qualified teams were divided into two groups of four teams each. The top two in each group advanced to the semi-finals.
The teams were ranked according to the three points for a win system. (3 for a win, 1 for a draw and none for a loss)
Group stage
Tiebreakers
If two or more teams in the group stage are tied on points tie-breakers are in order:
greater number of points in matches between tied teams
superior goal difference in matches between tied teams
greater number of goals scored in matches between tied teams
superior goal difference in all group matches
greater number of goals scored in all group matches
fair play criteria based on red and yellow cards received
At this stage, if a match is level at the end of 90 minutes and additional playing time, extra time, except for the third place match, is played and followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary.
^"Three bids for Nations Cup 2008". BBC Sport. 12 December 2003. Retrieved 23 November 2017. Caf has also announced that South Africa will host the African women's championships again.
