The twelve winners from the first round join twenty-eight other hopefuls in the group phase of African qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. These forty teams were split into ten groups of four by the preliminary draw. Each team will play the other three teams in their group home and away for a total of six matches. Only the ten group winners survive to face the prospect of a third round of qualifying. For the other thirty teams, the dream ends here.The top seed in each group is listed first, followed by the second seed, the third seed, and the fourth seed.
Group A
South Africa
Botswana
Central African Republic
Winner of Series 7
Group B
Tunisia
Cape Verde
Sierra Leone
Winner of Series 6
Group C
Cote d'Ivoire
Morocco
Gambia
Winner of Series 12
Group D
Ghana
Zambia
Sudan
Winner of Series 8
Group E
Burkina Faso
Gabon
Niger
Winner of Series 11
Group F
Nigeria
Malawi
Winner of Series 1
Winner of Series 3
Group G
Egypt
Guinea
Zimbabwe
Winner of Series 5
Group H
Algeria
Mali
Benin
Winner of Series 9
Group I
Cameroon
Libya
Winner of Series 2
Winner of Series 10
Group J
Senegal
Uganda
Angola
Winner of Series 4
My early predictions for group winners:
Botswana, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Uganda
Group J is the pick of the lot. Senegal have been overrated since their quarterfinal run at the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Star striker El Hadji Diouf was just suspended from Senegal's national team for five years, so he will be absent from this tournament. Angola were the weakest side at the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals. Both Angola and Senegal failed to advance to the final round of CAF qualifying in 2010. Uganda finished level on points with Angola in that tournament and would have qualified for the final round as one of the second-place teams, but Angola won a kooky tiebreaker and both sides were eliminated. Uganda and Angola are in the same group for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying with Uganda four points clear of Angola, having beaten Angola 3-0 already.
Group I is deceptively tough. Cameroon and Libya are in, but they are likely to be joined by Togo and DR Congo, a tough bunch indeed. However, none of these teams have the firepower to match Cameroon if Cameroon perform to their potential.
Group A is primed for an upset with neighbors South Africa and Botswana grouped together. South Africa has been on the upswing after their good performance as hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals, defeating France and tying Mexico. However, this was preceded by a failed attempt to make the final round of qualifying for the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations. South Africa could only manage one point from two games against Sierra Leone in that tournament. However, South Africa are currently winning a group with nemesis Sierra Leone and powerhouse Egypt in qualifying for 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying. Why then would Botswana, who has never qualified for anything before, be the pick? Botswana is one of four teams to have already qualified for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, along with the two hosts and top seed Cote d'Ivoire. Botswana have safely navigated a group with Togo, Tunisia, and emerging presence Malawi to make its maiden appearance at the tournament finals, and have only lost once in the past two years (a friendly loss to Sweden).
Links
Here is a response to the whole African draw.CAF Second Round overview:
Here is an article on the rise of Botswana.
Group A breakdown:
Group B breakdown:
Group C breakdown:
Here is the response to the Group D pairings.Group D breakdown:
Group E breakdown:
Group F breakdown:
Group G breakdown:
Group H breakdown:
Group I breakdown:Group J breakdown:
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