However, since 2017, the AfroBasket along with all other men's FIBA continental championships are no longer a part of the qualifying process for the World Cup or the Olympics.

Each subzone conducted a qualification tournament a year before the championship to determine the qualifying teams.

The host and the champion from the preceding AfroBasket also got a berth each, while two or three teams were selected as wild cards.

However, beginning with the 2021 tournament, FIBA changed the qualification format where wild cards are no longer given and the preceding champion is no longer guaranteed an automatic berth.

[4] A total of 39 national teams have appeared in at least one FIBA AfroBasket in the history of the tournament through the 2025 competition.