This page details the qualifying process for the 1986 African Cup of Nations in Egypt. Egypt, as hosts, and Cameroon, as title holders, qualified automatically.[1]
|}
Tanzania won 3–2 on aggregate.----Mozambique won 3–0 on aggregate.----Zimbabwe won 8–1 on aggregate.----Kenya won 4–3 on penalty shootout after 1–1 on aggregate.----Zaire won 3–1 on aggregate.----Mauritania won 4–3 on aggregate.----Mali won 3–2 on aggregate.----Sierra Leone won 4–3 on aggregate.
|}
Zimbabwe won 6–2 on aggregate.----Algeria won 5–1 on aggregate.----Libya won 2–1 on aggregate.----Ghana won 5–2 on aggregate.----Ivory Coast won 7–1 on aggregate.----Mozambique won 6–5 on penalty shootout after 2–2 on aggregate.----Senegal won 2–1 on aggregate.----Zaire won 5–2 on aggregate.----Kenya advanced after Sudan withdrew.----Morocco advanced after Sierra Leone withdrew.----Nigeria advanced after Tanzania withdrew.----Zambia advanced after Ethiopia withdrew.
|}
Algeria won 3–0 on aggregate.----Zambia won 1–0 on aggregate.----Ivory Coast won 2–0 on aggregate.----Senegal won 3–1 on aggregate.----Mozambique won 4–3 on penalty shootout after 3–3 on aggregate.----Morocco won 1–0 on aggregate.
width=25% | width=25% |