I just looked it up and I didn't realize how tough the AFCON WC qualification campaign is. 10 groups in the second round and only the group winners qualify to the next round and they all play each other in the final round for a WC place. A bit harsh and unfair considering how Europe had it easier.
Are you aware that if you put Senegal, Egypt or Cameroon in UEFA, due to ranking FIFA they won't be top seeds, so they would have to take the 1st place in the group(to qualify directly) from Germany,England,France,Italy,Netherlands,Portugal,Spain,etc right?
It's only easy for big teams, not for the rest.
Beating dross like San Marino and Malta doesn't change anything, they lose to everybody, which is why matches against such teams are pointless, and shouldn't even be played.
I've criticized UEFA qualifiers for having games against San Marino,Malta, Andorra,etc who are pointless...but on the other hand, it's the only confederation when tier 2-3 teams are, most of the times, forced to upset a big team to qualify directly to WC.
No other confederation has that, kinda unfair for tier 2-3 european teams imo.
That being said, i consider African qualifiers difficult for teams not called Senegal,Cameroon,Ivory Coast or Nigeria.