2014 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)

Format

Fifty-two out of the 53 national associations affiliated to CAF entered the qualifying to determine the continent's five slots for the next World Cup.

The proposed format, announced on 16 May 2011, began in November 2011 with the first round of 12 two-legged knock-out ties. The ties, involving the 24 lowest-ranked teams according to FIFA World Rankings, were drawn in Brazil on 30 July 2011.

The 12 winners joined the remaining 28 CAF entrants in the second round, which consists of 10 groups of 4. The winners of each group – held between June 2012 and September 2013 – advanced to the third round of 5 two-legged knock-out ties. The 5 winners of these ties – held in October and November 2013 – advanced to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals.

Entrants

The July 2011 FIFA Ranking were used to seed the teams for the first two rounds, both of which were drawn in Brazil on 30 July 2011. (World rankings shown in brackets)

;Notes

• did not participate in the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

First round

Main article: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF first round

The first round consisted of 12 home-and-away ties, featured the 24 lowest ranked teams in Africa. The ties were drawn at the World Cup Preliminary Draw at the Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 30 July 2011. The winners of these series proceeded to the second round.

Seeding

The July 2011 FIFA Ranking was used to seed the teams.

Matches

The first legs were scheduled for 11–12 November 2011, with the second legs on 15–16 November 2011. |}

• Note: Mauritius withdrew from the tournament on 31 October 2011. Liberia automatically advanced to the second round.

Second round

Main article: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF second round

The second round saw the top 28 ranked CAF teams joined by the 12 winners from the first round. These teams were drawn into ten groups of four teams at the World Cup Preliminary Draw at the Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on 30 July 2011. The matches were played from 1 June 2012 to 7 September 2013. The top team from each group advanced to the third round.

Seeding

The July 2011 FIFA Ranking was used to seed the teams.

† First round winners whose identity was not known at the time of the draw

Groups

Cameroon were suspended by FIFA on 4 July 2013 for government interference. The suspension was lifted on 22 July 2013.

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Group E

Group F

Group G

Group H

Group I

Group J

Third round

Main article: 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF third round

The third round saw the 10 group winners from the second round drawn into five home and away ties. The winners of each tie advanced to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Seeding

The draw of the play-offs was held on 16 September 2013 at the CAF headquarters in Cairo. The teams were seeded based on the September 2013 edition of the FIFA Ranking (shown below in brackets).

Matches

The matches were played in the periods of 11–15 October and 16–19 November 2013.

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Qualified teams

The following five teams from CAF qualified for the final tournament.

:1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Top goalscorers

• Mohamed Aboutrika

• Mohamed Salah

• Asamoah Gyan

• Islam Slimani

• Salomon Kalou

• Juvenal

• Getaneh Kebede

• Saladin Said

• Bernard Parker

• Papiss Cissé

• Trésor Mputu

• Yaya Touré

Below are full goalscorer lists for each round:

• First round
• Second round
• Third round

References

References

1. "African Qualifiers – FIFA World Cup 2014".
2. "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil {{!}} Preliminary Competition Format and Draw Procedures {{!}} African Zone". [[FIFA]].
3. (27 July 2011). "FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA.
4. (21 November 2007). "2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Preliminary Draw". FIFA.
5. (31 October 2011). "Mauritius withdraw from FIFA World Cup qualifiers". FIFA.com.
6. (4 July 2013). "Cameroon suspended indefinitely by FIFA.". Yahoo! Sports.
7. (22 July 2013). "FIFA lifts suspension of Cameroon". FOXNews.com.
8. (16 May 2013). "Press Release following CAF EXCO May 2013 meetings". cafonline.com.
9. (15 June 2013). "Dates set for African and European qualifying draws". FIFA.
10. (12 September 2013). "Latest FIFA Rankings reveal the play-off seedings for World Cup African qualifiers". Confederation of African Football.
11. (16 September 2013). "Play-off draw brings high drama". FIFA.com.