The Confederation of African Football have unveiled a three-stage qualifying format for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The series will begin with a preliminary round involving the 24 lowest-ranked teams on the latest edition of the Fifa rankings, who will play a knockout tie on home and away basis.

The 12 qualifiers from this preliminary round will join the 28 teams on a bye for the second phase, which will be divided into ten groups of four each.

The top team from each of the 10 groups will qualify for the final play-off, and will play on home and away basis to determine the five slots.

In all, 154 matches will played between November 2011 and November 2013.

Fifty-two out of the 53 National Associations affiliated to CAF will take part in the qualifying series to determine the continent’s five slots for the next World Cup.

Dates Fixtures Observations Match Day

Stage 1: First Round* 24 bottom FIFA ranked teams*
11 Nov 2011 1stLeg Knock out FIFA D –MD1
15 Nov 2011 2ndLeg Knock out FIFA D –MD2
* 24 bottom FIFA ranked teams based on latest available Coca-Cola rankings

Stage 2: Group phase –10 groups of 4 teams**12 teams from Stage 1 + 28 teams
01-05 June 2012 Round 1 FIFA DD –MD3
08-12 June 2012 Round 2 FIFA DD –MD4
22-26 March 2013 Round 3 FIFA DD –MD5
07-11 June 2013 Round 4 FIFA DD –MD6
14-18 June 2013 Round 5 FIFA DD –MD7
06-10 Sept. 2013 Round 6 FIFA DD –MD8
** Top team of each group to qualify for final play off phase: 10 teams

Stage 3: Play-off phase –5 Home & Away10 teams –10 matches
11-15 Oct 2013 1stLeg Knock Out FIFA DD –MD9
15-19 Nov 2013 2ndLeg Knock Out FIFA DD –MD10

Makes sense, who's the only country in Africa that is not a member of CAF?

This is a spectacular decision by CAF.

By the time a qualifier emerges from this rigorous process, you can be sure they will not go to the World Cup to disgrace Africa.

Hope the Europe based African players won't shy away from this qualifiers.

^^

Let them shun the games, that would be their un-doing, most African players are becoming irrelevant in their respective clubs in Europe.

Hope Nigeria can make it under this new process

Nff needs to be careful with this new development.

qualifier aint the problem, make them go make impact for there

My apprehension: with this, there is big hole and for luck to determine who gets into the hole. I hope some of the big teams would not be kicked out for potentially weak teams that would not perform for africa during the 2014 world cup proper.

The new process is very rigorous and tedious! So i don't see nigeria really qualifying.

this serious, siasia should better sit-up.we cant afford nt 2 be in BRAZIL

I love this system. It gives the smaller teams a chance.

Men I don't like this one at all. Why did they eliminate d group format? This is Africa where teams can do all manner to d away side so as to get a result in 2 legged games, just ask d teams in Caf champions league. I can just imagine if one Seirra Leone get drawn against d Super Eagles in a play off for a slot at Brazil 2014 and they manage a 1-1 draw here, they will do all sorts (short of poisoning our players) to ensure they get d required result at home.

I don't like at all. Sia better start working hard. Under this format ain't no room for error.

lets withold our judgements till the tournament kick off/ is completed.

Nigeria being in the top 5 of African team rankings, gets a bye into the first group stage.

which makes this qualification process no different from the last one.

i dont see what the big deal is.

Nigeria na rubbish

honeric01:

Makes sense, who's the only country in Africa that is not a member of CAF?

Western Sahara seems to be the country not on CAF's list. However, I still believe a country like Djibouti might pull out on financial grounds (they did it the last time),

Nice qualifying format though. hopefully the best teams gets to qualify,

We need to get Somaliland in this!!

Siasia would really have to sit up!

laposta:

Western Sahara seems to be the country not on CAF's list. However, I still believe a country like Djibouti might pull out on financial grounds (they did it the last time),

Nice qualifying format though. hopefully the best teams gets to qualify,

Western Sahara? when did they come into existence? Africa has always had 53 countries excluding this "western Sahara" you're talking about, i would like to know the 53rd country.

I think i know this Western Sahara, they came out of Morocco right? if yes, then it means Africa has 54 countries, but they are yet to get any independence right?

Hello Somaliland? They were not invited! CAF are scared just like the AU.

How will the final round matchups be determined?

Will it be based on Fifa rankings or random selection?

[img]http://www.50centloseweight.com[/img]

Somaliland: Hello Somaliland? They were not invited! CAF are scared just like the AU.

look good