Defeated in all four of their group stage games to date, Djibouti have shipped 18 goals and currently have a -16 goal difference.

Their low point was an 8-0 hammering by Algeria, although they did score two against Niger in a 4-2 home defeat.

Niger have also been punished at the hands of Algeria, losing 6-1 in Blida before a 4-0 defeat in Niamey on Tuesday.

With just one victory—against Djibouti—from four games, they’re also out of the running.

They’ve failed to build on their qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, taking just one point from their four matches to date.

Head coach Corentin Martins paid with his job after three consecutive losses.

Despite an away victory against the Central African Republic on Gameweek Two—secured when Kpah Sherman netted an 86th-minute winner—the Lone Stars have already found themselves out of the running.

Defeats both home and away against Cape Verde—who scored winners in the 90th and 92nd minutes—has cost Liberia dearly.

Heroes of Africa Cup of Nations qualifying, Malawi took three points on Gameweek Two when Richard Mbulu’s early effort downed Mozambique in Johannesburg.

Unfortunately for the Flames, however, that’s as good as it’s got, as a tough group draw—Cameroon and Ivory Coast are nightmare opponents—has proved too much for them.

Currently bottom of Group D after four matches, Mozambique would never have expected this scenario after they held out for an impressive point in a 0-0 draw with the Ivory Coast on Matchday One.

They failed to build on that fine display, however, as they lost to Malawi before back-to-back defeats by Cameroon during the ongoing international break.

What a mess.

The appointment of Firat Engin hasn’t worked at all for the Harambee Stars, who drew their first two games—against Uganda and Rwanda—but were completely eclipsed by Mali.

There’s no doubt that Kenya have regressed dramatically over the last two years, but who must shoulder the blame?

With the best defensive record of any of the eliminated teams, Rwanda have only conceded four goals in four matches to date.

However, only one point to date hasn’t been enough, with three 1-0 defeats condemning Rwanda to early elimination.

Looked excellent earlier this month as they defeated Gabon 3-1 at home, but a 2-0 loss away against the Panthers ultimately means an early exit.

Angola will look back at a 1-0 home defeat by Libya last month as their main regret on their Road to Qatar.

Another side who have failed to build on Nations Cup qualification.

Ethiopia defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in Gameweek Two, thanks to Aschalew Tamene’s 94th-minute penalty, but meetings with Ghana and South Africa proved too much.

The Walias’ limitations were exposed in their 3-1 unravelling at home in last week’s meeting with Bafana Bafana.

Zim may well be questioning how they’ve fallen so far short after a series of encouraging displays.

They were arguably the stronger side in their 1-0 defeat by Ghana, only for a goalkeeper error to allow Thomas Partey in to score, and their defence wasn’t beaten during the first 184 minutes of the qualifying campaign.

One of three victims of Senegal’s group stage dominance, Togo have taken four points so far, but there will be no repeat of 2006’s unlikely qualification.

Took the lead in their first two matches, and will rue dropping two points in their opening 1-1 draw with Congo-Brazzaville.

They were outclassed by Senegal across both matches—conceding seven goals—although they did lay a glove on the Teranga Lions, by scoring in each bout.

Drew both of their away games—against Namibia and Togo—but their home defeat by the latter on Tuesday ultimately takes them out of contention.

Congo were also holding Senegal 1-1 at home heading into the final eight minutes of their meeting in Brazzaville, only to capitulate at the death.

Started the campaign so strongly, by holding Guinea and thumping Sudan 4-2 away in one of the results of the whole qualifying programme so far.

However, back-to-back defeats by Morocco—conceding eight in the process—was a harsh reality check.

The biggest nation eliminated so far, Guinea will surely have been hoping to have pushed Morocco right to the limit to progress from this group.

Ultimately, they’ve endured a miserable campaign, failing to win any of their four games to date, although the military coup that prompted a rescheduling of their home game against Morocco must be acknowledged.

Returning to the continental high table next year after a successful Afcon qualifying campaign, Sudan couldn’t maintain that momentum.

Zero victories in four games leaves them with much work to do before the Nations Cup.