South Africa as hosts and Nigeria as title holders qualified automatically, while the remaining six spots were determined by the qualification rounds which took place between June and August 2000.
Qualification took place on a home-and-away two-legged basis. If aggregate scores were tied after the second leg, the away goals rule would apply, even adding the penalty shoot-out if scores were still level. No extra time period was used.
The six winners of the qualification round qualified for the group stage.
A match at the third-place match with a levelled score at the end of 90 minutes would go to an extra time of 30 minutes is played and followed by a penalty shoot-out if necessary.
1 The match was abandoned in the 73rd minute with Nigeria leading 2–0 after fans started throwing objects at the referee following the second goal, with riot police arriving 40 minutes later and firing tear gas in the crowds; fans needed hospital treatment and cars belonging to journalists were attacked as they were leaving the stadium. The result stood as final.[1]
Nigeria (4th title)
South Africa
Ghana
Zimbabwe
Réunion
Kenya
Egypt
Cameroon
Algeria
Lesotho
DR Congo
Ondo Akono
Scholastica Tetteh
Justine Rasoanirina
Bola Abidoye
Fatou Gaye
Catherine Adipo
Sabelo Sibindi
29'
Makhosi Luthuli
Nadia Maqdi
Rachelle Lecoutre
