Algeria 1 - Burkina Faso 0

Photo by Farouk Batiche

Burkina Faso made the trip to Blida to take on Algeria.  The Burkinabe came to town nursing a 3-2 advantage on the aggregate scoreboard.  At the quarter hour mark, a cross from Algeria's left flank produced a good chance.  Islam Slimani smashed his unmarked header wide from seven yards out.  With two minutes left, Algeria captain Madjid Bougherra launched himself in the air and dropped a potentially leg-breaking challenge on poor Charles Kabore.  Somehow, Bougherra only saw a yellow card on the play.  The teams exited the field of play even at zero goals apiece.

Early in the second half, Bougherra's presence on the pitch proved vital for the home side.  Off a deep Algerian free kick, the ball was flicked on over the head of Burkina Faso defender Bakary Kone.  Bougherra's initial shot was blocked by Burkina Faso goalkeeper Daouda Diakite.  However, Kone's attempted clearance off the line shot straight into the head of Bougherra and somehow managed to trickle into the goal to put Algeria ahead 1-0.  Algeria were then able to hoard the lion's share of possession, causing the Stallions to become increasingly desperate as the current scoreline would see them eliminated.  Burkina Faso resorted to throwing the injured Alain Traore on the pitch as an attacking substitute in the final minutes as they searched for the equalizer.  A late corner for the Stallions was nearly turned in for an own goal by the Algerians, but the bar saved their tournament lives.  Algeria hold on to take the victory today by a score of 1-0.  The aggregate score over two legs is even at 3-3, but Algeria advance to Brasil 2014 by virtue of winning the road goals tiebreaker 2-0.  Burkina Faso fall just short of their first ever FIFA World Cup finals as they have been eliminated.  The same five African qualifiers for South Africa 2010 will be present in Brasil next June.

Goals
Algeria
Madjid Bougherra 49

Match Reports:
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/19/algeria-world-cup-qualifier-burkina-faso
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2225274/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24991552
http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/worldcup/story/algeria-1-0-burkina-faso-caf-world-cup-playoff-second-leg-111913

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Pe5VlT0w0w

Full Match Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NY7--KP_jc8

Egypt 2 - Ghana 1

Photo by Khaled Desouki

Egypt were looking to overturn a 6-1 deficit from the first leg at home in Cairo.  Ghana were looking to finish the job they had begun a month prior.  Twenty-five minutes into the first half, Egypt were finally able to break down the ultra-defensive play of Ghana.  A Mohamed Aboutrika free kick was played perfectly onto the six-yard box.  Ghana goalkeeper Fatawu Dauda came off his line, but he could not reach the ball as Amr Zaki won the header and finished for a 1-0 lead.  With such a massive lead on the aggregate scoreboard, Ghana never pushed for the equalizing goal.  Egypt led only 1-0 at halftime.

Ghana were dealt a heavy blow when Andre Ayew (pictured, white) was taken off the field with a torn knee ligament close to the hour mark.  Egyptian fans took to throwing flares onto the field of play late in the second half.  Egypt only managed to attain a second goal with six minutes left in regulation.  Mohamed Salah drew attention at the top of the box, so he passed ahead to Gedo.  Gedo finished from an angle to make it 2-0, but it was to be too little too late for the Pharaohs to salvage their tournament lives.  In fact, with Egypt really opening up in search of three more goals, Ghana stole one of their own in the dying minutes.  Harrison Afful took a chance with a through ball up the right side of defense, and Asamoah Gyan read the play perfectly.  Gyan broke through the backline and had a simple pass across goal to make.  He did, and Kevin-Prince Boateng tapped in to finish off the series.  Egypt salvage some pride with the 2-1 victory today, but they lose 7-3 on aggregate and are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Ghana are the twenty-fifth team to advance to Brasil 2014.

Goals:
Egypt
Amr Zaki 25
Gedo 84

Ghana
Kevin-Prince Boateng 89

Match Reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24987039
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/worldcup2014/article-2510128/Egypt-2-Ghana-1-Black-Stars-reach-World-Cup-running.html
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2225273/index.html
http://www.theguardian.com/football/2013/nov/19/ghana-egypt-world-cup-qualifier

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsJPBVOR-fc

Cameroon 4 - Tunisia 1

Photo by Fethi Belaid

Tunisia were visiting Cameroon in Yaounde for the second leg of their CAF Third Round matchup.  The first leg had ended 0-0.  Cameroon hit Tunisia for an early goal.  Pierre Webo dispossessed Tunisia defender Karim Haggui and then made a run down the left side of the penalty area before seeing that he had no teammates in support.  Therefore, Webo took a shot and the result was a goal in off the base of the far post.  At the half hour mark, another piece of individual brilliance made it 2-0 to the hosts.  Benjamin Moudandjo cut past Houcine Ragued and a slide tackle from Sameh Derbaly before rolling a ball into the net.  Moudandjo took off his shirt and ran onto the track to celebrate with the crazed fans.  Cameroon led 2-0 at intermission.

Five minutes into the second half, Tunisia were back in the match.  A long ball forward left Tunisia substitute Ahmed Akaichi in a foot race with Cameroon centerback Aurelien Chedjou.  Akaichi won and laced a half volley into the net to bring the score to 2-1.  Cameroon took all control back off a Benoit Assou-Ekotto corner kick twenty minutes into the second half.  The ball was curled onto the six-yard line, and an unmarked Jean Makoun headed home for a 3-1 lead.  Cameroon sealed the victory four minutes from time.  Eric Choupo Moting shook the mark of Haggui and then curled a ball past the goalkeeper.  The post intervened, but Makoun gathered the rebound, faked to send the goalkeeper sprawling the wrong way, and then cut back for the easy open finish.  Cameroon win the match 4-1 and qualify for Brasil 2014, eliminating Tunisia in the process.

Goals
Cameroon
Pierre Webo 4
Benjamin Moudandjo 30
Jean Makoun 65, 86

Tunisia
Ahmed Akaichi 49

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2225155/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_1
http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/381877/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901
http://us.soccerway.com/news/2013/November/17/fifa-world-cup-africa-play-off-cameroon-4-tunisia-1-4-1-agg/n245289/

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuU06o7D4xE

Cote d'Ivoire 1 - Senegal 1

Photo by Fadel Senna

Senegal were playing the home leg of their two-legged series against Cote d'Ivoire in Casablanca, Morocco.  Senegal needed to overcome a 3-1 deficit on this night.  Senegal came out ablaze, and the Ivoirians had to manufacture constant miracles in defense to avoid going behind.  Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry was picking off cross after cross, but on the one occasion that he was beaten star striker Didier Drogba was around to perform a bicycle kick clearance off the line.  After the half hour mark, the attacks from Senegal began to slow down.  Cote d'Ivoire were very pleased to get into their locker room still even at 0-0 on the night.

Souleymane Bamba missed completely on a header clearance, leaving Senegal striker Papiss Cisse (pictured, white #15) on the ball in front of goal.  A heavy touch rebounded off the last defender to Cisse, but Cisse could not beat Barry, who made a stunning kick save to preserve his clean sheet.  A bit of lax defending from Drogba allowed Sadio Mane to feign heavier contact on his back than what Drogba really had applied.  Mane threw himself into the ground and was given a penalty kick.  Moussa Sow converted the penalty kick with an illegal parandinha run-up, but the referee saw nothing wrong with the tactic and Senegal were ahead 1-0.  Yaya Toure nearly ran onto a ball to toe poke for the equalizer, but Senegal goalkeeper Bouna Condoul bravely came off his line to make a sliding block as Toure tried to shoot.  In a crazy goalmouth scramble in stoppage time, Senegal seemed sure to grab the 2-0 win that would send them through to Brasil 2014 on the away goals tiebreaker.  Instead, the attack was miraculously thwarted by Cote d'Ivoire.  As Senegal threw all their numbers forward, a late three-on-one counterattack led by Toure was laid off for Salomon Kalou, who finished through the legs of Condoul.  The match ends in a 1-1 draw, and Cote d'Ivoire advance to the 2014 FIFA World Cup by a 4-2 aggregate score.  Senegal are dealt their final blow and fail to qualify for the tournament finals.

Goals
Senegal
Moussa Sow 77 PK

Cote d'Ivoire
Salomon Kalou 90+4

Match Reports:
http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/381876/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901
http://www.goal.com/en-my/match/124156/senegal-vs-ivory-coast/report
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2224825/

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rN1Po2_iwMs

Nigeria 2 - Ethiopia 0

Photo by Pius Utomi Ekpei

The first African team to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals would be decided today in Calabar.  Hosts Nigeria welcomed Ethiopia to town for the second leg of their playoff with Nigeria nursing a 2-1 lead.  A long throw-in from Ahmed Musa caught Ethiopia napping after having cleared away his solo run.  Emmanuel Emenike was open in the box and shot off the half volley, but Ethiopia goalkeeper Sisay Bancha made a reaction save.  A handball was called against Aynalem Hailu in his own box even though the ball first struck his stomach before bouncing onto his arm.  Nigeria converted the penalty kick to take a 1-0 lead.  A fine cross to the back post by Ogenyi Onazi gave the Super Eagles a golden chance at their second goal, but Brown Ideye knocked a header just wide from six yards out.  Nigeria took the 1-0 lead with them into their locker room.

Onazi created a chance from the half circle by shimmying to drop his marker Asrat Gobena, but again Banca made the save.  A late free kick from Victor Obinna knuckled and ate up Bancha, going in right over his head.  This goal sealed the match and the series for the Super Eagles.  Nigeria win 2-0 on the night and 4-1 on aggregate and have now secured their place at Brasil 2014.  Ethiopia are eliminated.

Goals
Nigeria
Victor Moses 20 PK (pictured, green)
Victor Obinna 82

Match Reports:
http://espnfc.com/us/en/report/381875/report.html?soccernet=true&cc=5901
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2224823/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_caption

Highlights:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqD_X-rPMJA

Match Schedule: November 2013

November 2013 marks the end of the long journey that is FIFA World Cup qualifying for Brasil 2014.  The cycle began in Trinidad and Tobago back on 15 June 2011 and will end on 20 November 2013 in Uruguay.  This month, the remaining twenty-two teams across all six confederations will be whittled down to the final eleven qualifiers with the other eleven sides suffering elimination at the final hurdle.  Four qualifications and four eliminations will come out of the playoffs in Europe.  Five qualifications and five eliminations will come out of the second legs of the final round in Africa.  The final two qualifications and two eliminations will take place on the final day of qualifying in the two intercontinental playoff series.  The seventeen matches this month will see the field of thirty-two nations finally reveal itself in its entirety ahead of the final draw in December.

All times are given in Central Time (GMT-6).

13 November 2013
Uruguay at Jordan 9:00 Amman
New Zealand at Mexico 14:30 Mexico City

15 November 2013
Croatia at Iceland 13:00 Reykjavik
France at Ukraine 13:45 Kiev
Romania at Greece 13:45 Piraeus
Sweden at Portugal 13:45 Lisbon

16 November 2013
Ethiopia at Nigeria 9:00 Calabar
Cote d'Ivoire at Senegal 12:00 Casablanca, Morocco

17 November 2013
Tunisia at Cameroon 8:30 Yaoundé

19 November 2013
Ghana at Egypt 10:00 Cairo
Burkina Faso at Algeria 12:15 Blida
Greece at Romania 13:00 Bucharest
Ukraine at France 13:00 Saint-Denis
Iceland at Croatia 13:15 Zagreb
Portugal at Sweden 13:45 Solna

20 November 2013
Mexico at New Zealand 00:00 Wellington
Jordan at Uruguay 17:00 Montevideo

Ghana 6 - Egypt 1

Photo by AFP employee

Ghana hosted the first leg of their series against Egypt in Kumasi.  Asamoah Gyan (pictured, white) muffed a simple chance early on for Ghana.  Gyan soon made up for his miss by scoring off a sharp angle shot that he banged in off the far post.  Later, Michael Essien sent in a nice cross to Majeed Waris, but the header behind Egypt goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy was still kept out by the recovery dive of Ekramy.  Ghana kept pressing in attack relentlessly.  Essien made an amazing solo run, dribbling through four Egypt defenders, including Ekramy, before his pass back into space was hit hard into the shins of Egypt defender Wael Gomaa.  The ricochet landed in the net to put Ghana ahead 2-0.  Mohamed Aboutrika whipped in a fast cross off an Egyptian free kick that gave Mohamed Naguib a wide open header at the back post, but Naguib could not keep the header down.  Soon thereafter, Rashid Sumaila ran into the back of Mohamed Salah, giving Egypt a penalty kick.   Egypt converted the spot kick for 2-1.  Sulley Muntari sent in a cross off a free kick that was met by the head of Waris to restore Ghana's two-goal advantage.  The Egyptian backline were having all sorts of trouble winning the aerial battle against the smaller Ghanaians.  Ghana led 3-1 going into their dressing room.

A side volley into the turf by Muntari bounced high into the sky and came down onto the head of Gyan, whose powerful header made it 4-1 to Ghana.  Substitute Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawi was judged to have brought down a Ghanaian attacker with his hand inside the box, although the call was very questionable as it appeared that Elshenawi only touched the ball.  Ghana converted the penalty kick for their fifth goal of the afternoon.  Late substitute Christian Atsu buried Egypt for good with a strike from twenty-two yards out that was knocked in off the post to finish the scoring.  Ghana resoundingly win 6-1 and all but clinch their berth at Brasil 2014 pending the second leg.

Goals
Ghana
Asamoah Gyan 5, 53
Wael Gomaa 22 OG
Majeed Waris 44
Sulley Muntari 72 PK
Christian Atsu 89

Egypt
Mohamed Aboutrika 41 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24524298
http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/124161/ghana-vs-egypt/report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60bKGXrJcG8

Cameroon 0 - Tunisia 0

Photo by Zoubeir Souissi

The fans had their green laser pointers out in full force in Rades as Tunisia played their home leg against Cameroon today.  Tunisia come out with a purpose, but none of their early chances came to fruition.  Amine Chermiti nearly had a goal from a strange bounce in the box, but an alert Charles Itandje in goal for Cameroon beat him to the ball and punched to safety.  Wissem Ben Yahia tried his luck from nearly thirty yards, but his swerving effort brought out a nice backward-leaning tip over the crossbar from Itandje.  Shortly thereafter, Itandje saved a massive close-range header from Yassine Chikhaoui (pictured, white) off a short cross.  Once Cameroon established themselves in the match, the Tunisia attacks were kept at bay.

Yassin Mikari played a cross in to Fakhreddine Ben Youssef for a header that was smashed wide after a good run to get open.  Alaeddine Yahia powered a header on frame from a Tunisian corner, but Itandje again used his reflexes to save Cameroon.  Allan Nyom made a great run up the right side out of his fullback position for Cameroon.  His cross was tipped slightly by the goalkeeper, giving Pierre Webo a chance for an easy tap-in, which he somehow missed.  The shock of the miss seemed to take all the sting out of the match.  Tunisia were ruing all their missed chances earlier and wondered how they failed to score.  Cameroon were mystified by Webo's blown chance.  The match ends 0-0, leaving the tie poised on the edge going into next month's second leg.

Match Reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24513906
http://en.starafrica.com/football/tunisia-vs-cameroon-world-cup-qualifier-play-off-sunday-13th-october.html

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3YAaeYIJv8

Nigeria 2 - Ethiopia 1

Photo by Simon Maina

Ethiopia were at home before a raucous capacity crowd in Addis Ababa to face Nigeria in the first leg of their CAF Third Round series.  Ethiopia started very well as Nigeria struggled to find possession in the early going.  However, the Waliya Antelopes were having trouble making the possession turn into chances on goal.  Saladin Said came within a couple centimeters of putting Ethiopia ahead after pushing the ball under the arm of oncoming Nigeria goalkeeper Victor Enyeama and on frame.  However, Godfrey Oboabona was able to track backward to clear off the line.  The altitude seemed to affect the proceedings, enough so that a water break was given.  Said sent in a wicked shot that Enyeama had to parry away on the fly.  Nigeria were glad to survive the first half at 0-0.

It took a while, but the first goal came before the first hour of play had elapsed.  A mishit cross by Behailu Assefa caught Enyeama napping.  Enyeama tracked back to make the catch, but he did so after the ball had already broken the plane of the goalmouth to put Ethiopia ahead 1-0.  Emmanuel Emenike had seen enough and decided to single-handedly drag Nigeria back into the match.  The striker made a strong solo run, fighting for space before belting a goal from twenty-third yards out midway through the half to make it 1-1.  Ahmed Musa nearly gave Nigeria a lead, but his shot struck the near post and ricocheted back into play.  Aynalem Hailu tackled Emenike from behind in the box on a late breakaway, giving Nigeria a penalty kick.  Emenike dusted himself off and converted the penalty to put the Super Eagles ahead with time expiring.  Nigeria win the first leg 2-1 and will gladly take two road goals with them as they play the second leg at home next month.

Goals
Nigeria
Emmanuel Emenike 67, 90 PK

Ethiopia
Behailu Assefa 57

Match Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2195444/index.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24513902
http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/10/super-eagles-good-brazil-beat-ethiopia-2-1/

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijSxBbMGBTs

Cote d'Ivoire 3 - Senegal 1

Photo by Issouf Sanogo

Cote d'Ivoire were at home in Abidjan for the first leg of their series with Senegal.  Ivoirian winger Gervinho wreaked havoc as he is wont to do.  On a signature drive of his, he drew an early penalty kick when he was fouled in the Senegalese box by Cheikh Kouyate.  Cote d'Ivoire converted for an early 1-0 lead.  Salomon Kalou started a dash up the field and released wide to Gervinho.  Gervinho played a heavy ball in the box that deflected off a Senegal player into his own net for an own goal.  The Ivoirians led 2-0 and were thirsty for more.  Les Elephants nearly had a third when a Kalou through ball put Gervinho alone on goal ahead of Lamine Gassama.  Gervinho dribbled at Gassama and held up play in the Senegalese box for Yaya Toure to arrive.  Gervinho slotted a pass for a one-timer for Toure, but Toure skied the effort.  Cote d'Ivoire took a 2-0 lead with them as they left the pitch, but is very well could have been 4-0.

Gervinho was at it again shortly after the start of the second half.  He picked up the ball at midfield and played a great through ball ahead to Kalou.  Kalou took a touch, faked a step-over to drop the goalkeeper and then pushed into the open net for 3-0.  With the last kick of the match deep into stoppage time, Senegal pulled back a road goal via a powerful Papiss Cisse shot that Cote d'Ivoire goalkeeper Boubacar Barry could not prevent from entering the goal in spite of the fact that the ball connected solidly with his hands.  Cote d'Ivoire win 3-1 but will be disappointed to have given up a road goal so late in the match with the second leg still to play next month.

Goals
Cote d'Ivoire
Didier Drogba 5 PK
Lamine Sane 14 OG
Salomon Kalou 50

Senegal
Papiss Cisse 90+6

Match Reports:
http://www.goal.com/en-gb/match/124155/ivory-coast-vs-senegal/report?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24510036

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qz7aIMjeZ2A

Burkina Faso 3 - Algeria 2

Photo by Farouk Batiche

Ouagadougou was the site of first leg between visiting Algeria and Burkina Faso.  Burkina Faso were dealt an early blow as an injury to Bakary Kone forced them to substitute center backs within the first five minutes.  Later in the half, Jonathan Pitroipa was brought down as he drove deep into the Algerian penalty area by a late challenge from Essaid Belkalem.  Aristide Bance (pictured, white, #15) struck the penalty kick well, but a fantastic diving save near the post by Algeria goalkeeper Adi Mbolhi kept the score level.  With the last kick of the half in stoppage time, Jean-Noel Lingani swung in a cross to the six-yard box.  Pitroipa made a great run in between the two centerbacks and scored off an open header.  Burkina Faso led 1-0 at the halftime whistle.

Five minutes after the restart, Islam Slimani and Sofiane Feghouli teamed up on Burkina Faso defender Paul Koulibaly, using a series of passes in tight spaces to cause Koulibaly to fall to the turf.  Eventually, Feghouli was open enough to take a shot inside the box, and he scored to make it 1-1.  A quarter hour later, the Stallions were back in front due to a great solo play by Djakaridja Kone.  Kone won a header off an unsuspecting Algerian defender and then raced into the space up the left flank.  Without breaking stride, Kone shot across his body and found the absolute sharpest angle he could find while still putting the ball on frame to make it 2-1.  Three minutes later, Carl Medjani headed off for a corner kick for the equalizer as none of the Burkinabe markers made any effort to jump for the cross.  Algeria were whistled for a handball in their own box very controversially near the end of regulation.  Belkalem was whistled for his second penalty-worthy infraction of the match.  Bance again took the penalty kick, but this time he went down the middle, allowing Mbolhi only to get a desperate touch as the ball flew into the space he had vacated before his dive.  Burkina Faso win the first leg 3-2, but Algeria will feel confident heading into the second leg having bagged two road goals.

Goals
Burkina Faso
Jonathan Pitroipa 45+2
Djakaridja Kone 65
Aristide Bance 86 PK

Algeria
Sofiane Feghouli 50
Carl Medjani 69

Match Reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24508189
http://www.goal.com/en/match/124163/burkina-faso-vs-algeria/report?
http://www.iol.co.za/sport/soccer/burkina-faso-beat-algeria-1.1591111#.Um9AB_mkqT4
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/12/uk-soccer-world-burkina-idUKBRE99B0A020131012

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tiBlmdSTjg

Full Match Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h02pVayRyj4

Match Schedule: October 2013

October 2013 will be the month that most clears up the qualification picture for Brasil 2014.  Africa will feature only five matches, but these are all the first legs of two-legged playoff series.  South America goes through its final two matchdays.  Three more teams will qualify directly to Brasil this month from the home continent, but only one team will be eliminated.  Seven teams will qualify from Europe this month while fourteen more will be eliminated, including one very unlucky second-place finisher.  North America will send one final contender into the finals this month while seeing two of its teams getting the boot.  An additional ten teams worldwide will be booking their arrangements for do-or-die playoff series in November.

All times are given in Central Time (GMT-5).

11 October 2013
Bulgaria at Armenia 10:00 Yerevan
Northern Ireland at Azerbaijan 11:00 Baku
San Marino at Moldova 11:00 Chisinau
Belgium at Croatia 11:00 Zagreb
Kazakhstan at Faroe Islands 12:00 Torshavn
Latvia at Lithuania 12:30 Vilnius
Czech Republic at Malta 12:30 Ta'Qali
Poland at Ukraine 13:00 Kharkiv
Liechtenstein at Bosnia and Herzegovina 13:00 Zenica
Italy at Denmark 13:15 Copenhagen
Turkey at Estonia 13:30 Tallinn
Switzerland at Albania 13:30 Tirana
Russia at Luxembourg 13:30 Luxembourg
Hungary at Netherlands 13:30 Amsterdam
Romania at Andorra 13:30 Andorra la Vella
Slovakia at Greece 13:45 Piraeus
Norway at Slovenia 13:45 Maribor
Ireland at Germany 13:45 Cologne
Austria at Sweden 13:45 Solna
Macedonia at Wales 13:45 Cardiff
Cyprus at Iceland 13:45 Reykjavik
Montenegro at England 14:00 London
Israel at Portugal 14:45 Lisbon
Belarus at Spain 15:00 Palma
Paraguay at Venezuela 16:00 San Cristobal
Chile at Colombia 16:00 Barranquilla
Uruguay at Ecuador 16:00 Quito
Costa Rica at Honduras 16:00 San Pedro Sula
Jamaica at United States of America 17:36 Kansas City
Peru at Argentina 18:00 Buenos Aires
Panama at Mexico 20:30 Mexico City

12 October 2013
Algeria at Burkina Faso 11:00 Ouagadougou
Senegal at Cote d'Ivoire 12:00 Abidjan

13 October 2013
Nigeria at Ethiopia 8:00 Addis Ababa
Cameroon at Tunisia 12:00 Rades

15 October 2013
Albania at Cyprus 11:00 Nicosia
Egypt at Ghana 11:00 Kumasi
Russia at Azerbaijan 12:00 Baku
Northern Ireland at Israel 12:00 Ramat Gan
Liechtenstein at Greece 12:00 Piraeus
Bosnia and Herzegovina at Lithuania 12:00 Kaunas
Luxembourg at Portugal 12:00 Coimbra
Netherlands at Turkey 13:00 Istanbul
Estonia at Romania 13:00 Bucharest
Andorra at Hungary 13:00 Budapest
Slovenia at Switzerland 13:00 Bern
Iceland at Norway 13:00 Oslo
Slovakia at Latvia 13:10 Riga
Czech Republic at Bulgaria 13:15 Sofia
Malta at Denmark 13:15 Copenhagen
Macedonia at Serbia 13:30 Jagodina
Armenia at Italy 13:45 Naples
Germany at Sweden 13:45 Solna
Austria at Faroe Islands 13:45 Torshavn
Kazakhstan at Ireland 13:45 Dublin
Moldova at Montenegro 14:00 Podgorica
Ukraine at San Marino 14:00 Serravalle
Wales at Belgium 14:00 Brussels
Finland at France 14:00 Saint-Denis
Georgia at Spain 14:00 Albacete
Poland at England 14:00 London
Croatia at Scotland 14:00 Glasgow
Argentina at Uruguay 18:30 Montevideo
Colombia at Paraguay 18:30 Asuncion
Ecuador at Chile 18:30 Santiago
Honduras at Jamaica 20:30 Kingston
United States of America at Panama 20:30 Panama City
Mexico at Costa Rica 20:30 San Jose
Bolivia at Peru 21:15 Lima

CAF Third Round Schedule

The final ten teams in Africa will face each other in five separate home-and-away aggregate-goals series.  The five winners will advance to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brasil.  Each series will feature one match in October and one match in November.

12 October 2013
Senegal at Cote d'Ivoire
Algeria at Burkina Faso

13 October 2013
Nigeria at Ethiopia
Cameroon at Tunisia

15 October 2013
Egypt at Ghana

16 November 2013
Cote d'Ivoire at Senegal
Ethiopia at Nigeria

17 November 2013
Tunisia at Cameroon

19 November 2013
Ghana at Egypt
Burkina Faso at Algeria

Africa Round Three Draw

Luxor, Egypt, was the site for the draw for the CAF Third Round today.  The biggest question was against which power team Egypt would be placed.  Another burning question was which lower-ranked team would be granted the chance to play a Tunisia in shambles, having recently replaced their coach following what they thought was their elimination.  Tunisia, of course, were revived by the disqualification of Cape Verde only two days after having seen their dreams crushed by a 2-0 loss at home to those same Blue Sharks.

The draw gods were out in full force today.  Top seed Cote d'Ivoire were drawn against the very same Senegal team they eliminated in a two-legged playoff to reach the 2013 African Cup of Nations finals.  On that occasion, the second leg in Dakar had to be stopped early due to riots from the Senegalese fans.  Because of this, Senegal will not be able to play the second leg in Senegal and must find a neutral venue.  Africa's two most populous countries Nigeria and Ethiopia face off over two legs.  The resurgent Ethiopia, African champions as recently as 1962, look to undo their 2-0 loss in the 2013 African Cup of Nations to Nigeria, African champions as recently as 2013.  Eternal powers Ghana and Egypt face off, with Ghana trying to make it three straight appearances at a FIFA World Cup finals and Egypt trying to get back for the first time since 1990.  Algeria avoided a North African derby with Egypt, but they do run into the best incarnation of a national team that Burkina Faso have ever produced.  Burkina Faso, finalists at the 2013 African Cup of Nations, try to deny Algeria a second straight finals appearance while looking for their first ever appearance.  Lastly, Cameroon would have had a rematch of their shocking loss in a two-legged qualifying series for the 2013 African Cup of Nations to Cape Verde, but Tunisia have stepped into the shoes of the Blue Sharks, giving Cameroon the best possible draw for which they could have hoped.

The five home-and-away aggregate-goals series are listed below with the home team for the first leg listed first.  The first legs will be played between 11 and 15 October 2013.  The second legs will be played between 15 and 19 November 2013.  The teams' current ELO ratings are listed.

21 Cote d'Ivoire - 63 Senegal
103 Ethiopia - 30 Nigeria
76 Tunisia - 62 Cameroon
38 Ghana - 34 Egypt
65 Burkina Faso - 59 Algeria

If I have to pick the five winners (and I do), I am going with Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, and Algeria, which would be the exact same five African teams that qualified for South Africa 2010.

News Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=2174867/index.html?intcmp=newsreader_news_box_2

Video of Draw:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDaW4ThB6_Y

CAF Third Round Pot Allocations

Africa has been awarded five spots at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals in Brasil. The final ten African teams will learn their qualifying fates this Monday, 16 September 2013, at the draw ceremony in Cairo.  Of the original top ten seeds from the preliminary draw, all but South Africa have advanced to the CAF Third Round draw.  Ethiopia are the only team outside the top ten to have made it this far.

Teams ranked 1 to 5 have been placed in Pot 1. Teams ranked 6 to 10 have been placed in Pot 2. One team from each pot will be drawn into each of five home-and-away aggregate-goals series. Teams have been placed in pots 1 and 2 for the third-round draw as follows.

Pot 1

1. Cote d'Ivoire

2. Ghana

3. Algeria
4. Nigeria

5. Tunisia

Pot 2
6. Egypt
7. Burkina Faso
8. Cameroon
9. Senegal
10. Ethiopia