Either Nigeria or Morocco will not be present at the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger following Monday's draw.
The Confederation of African Football revealed the draw for the qualifiers on Monday, with the two giants - who met in the African Nations Championship final earlier this month - set to miss out on the U-20 showpiece.
Morocco have been drawn against neighbours Mauritania in the First Round, with the winner of that match set to face Guinea in the Second Round.
While Paul Aigbogun's Nigeria have received a bye to the Second Round and should be favourites against either Sierra Leone or Guinea-Bissau, they've been placed on a collision course with Morocco - and a potential CHAN rematch in the offing in the Third Round.
The Flying Eagles are the most successful side in the competition's history, having won the tournament a record seven times, while also reaching a further two finals. They last clinched the cup in 2015.
The tournament will be the 15th edition of the U-20 Championships, or the 22nd if tournaments without hosts are also considered.
Other intriguing First Round ties include a derby between Algeria and Tunisia, with the winner set to face Ghana in the Second Round, and a meeting between Kenya and Rwanda for the chance to face holders Zambia in Round Two.
South Africa will face the winners of Seychelles vs. Mozambique before meeting one of Malawi, Swaziland or Angola in the Third Round, a tie which offers hope for Young Bafana Bafana.
Elsewhere, Senegal, second place in 2017, and Egypt will meet in the Second Round after receiving byes, with Botswana, Namibia or Congo-Brazzaville then set to stand in their way in the Third Round.
First Round first leg matches will take place on 30-31 March and April 1, with the second legs coming two weeks later.
Second Round legs will be played a week apart in mid-May, before the Third Round takes place in July.
The seven Third Round winners will join hosts Niger in the tournament, scheduled for next year.
