Ethiopia 5 - Somalia 0

In the final match of the CAF First Round, Ethiopia hosted neighbors Somalia (pictured) in Addis Ababa. The two had played to a 0-0 draw in the first leg, so the pressure was on Ethiopia to win at home in order to advance to the CAF Second Round. The Ocean Stars of Somalia were in for a long night as the Walyas were on form today. An Ethiopia goal in the fifth minute assured us that at the very least there would be no extra time. Ethiopia took the 1-0 lead into the half, but all Somalia needed was a tie in order to advance due to the road-goals tiebreaker.

Shimeles Bekele wanted nothing to do with drama. Bekele scored twice in a four minute span just after the hour mark of the match, giving Ethiopia a 3-0 lead and ending Somalia hopes. A fourth goal came three minutes from time. The poor Somalia goalkeeper was clearly exhausted as the match was almost over, and he dropped a shot hit straight at him in stoppage time, spilling the rebound into the net for Ethiopia's fifth and final goal in the 5-0 rout. Ethiopia eliminate Somalia 5-0 on aggregate score and advance to participate in round two of African qualifying, starting June 2012. Ethiopia will be part of Group A with South Africa, Botswana, and Central African Republic.

Goals

Ethiopia

Omod Okwury 5

Shimeles Bekele 62, 65

Getaneh Kebede 87, 90+4

Match Reports:

http://www.ethiosports.com/2011/11/17/ethiopia-vs-somalia-local-media-coverage/

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1543986/index.html

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_SDLQnLH0M

Togo 1 - Guinea-Bissau 0; Mozambique 4 - Comoros 1; Namibia 4 - Djibouti 0

Togo welcomed forward Emmanuel Adebayor back to the fold for their second leg home qualifier against Guinea-Bissau today in Lome. Though his return was an inspiration, it was FC Nantes's Serge Gakpe who scored his second goal of the CAF First Round in the second minute of play, giving Togo a 1-0 lead. The two teams tied the first leg 1-1. Togo took its 1-0 lead into the half.

Adebayor went the full ninety minutes, put all credit for today's effort must go to the defense, who made the one goal hold up for the next ninety minutes and pitched a shutout to eliminate Guinea-Bissau with a 1-0 victory. Togo advance to CAF Second Round Group I with Cameroon, Libya, and DR Congo.

Mozambique came home with a 1-0 aggregate lead after their first leg win in Comoros. Mozambique were hoping for an easier go of things in Maputo. Mozambique grabbed two first half goals for a 2-0 lead in the match and a 3-0 lead in the aggregate.

In the second period, Mozambique extended their lead on the night to 3-0, but with twenty minutes to go Comoros scored their first, meaning that the road-goals tiebreaker was even at 1-1. However, Mozambique still led the tied 4-1, and a fourth goal on the evening gave Mozambique a 4-1 home victory and a 5-1 aggregate win. Comoros are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup whereas Mozambique advance to the CAF Second Round Group G with Egypt, Guinea, and Zimbabwe.

Namibia brought a secure 4-0 aggregate lead to Windhoek to take on and take out visiting Djibouti. A dipping free kick from Heinrich Isaacks put Namibia on top 1-0 just beyond the quarter hour mark. Lazarus Kaimbi (pictured, red) notched the teams second goal with little more than ten minutes to play in the first period, and Namibia took the 2-0 lead into the break.

In the next period, Djibouti held out well defensively for the first fifteen minutes, but Kaimbi broke through for 3-0 and a brace. Seven minutes from time, Namibia secured their final goal in a 4-0 victory. The 8-0 aggregate demolition of Djibouti eliminates Djibouti and sends Namibia to Group F of the CAF Second Round, alongside Nigeria, Malawi, and Kenya.

Goals

Togo

Serge Gakpe 2

Mozambique

Domingues 26

Jermias Sitoe 44

Whiskey 58

Clesio Baque 81

Comoros

Mohamed Youssouf 70

Namibia

Heinrich Isaacks 17

Lazarus Kaimbi 34, 60

Sadney Urikhob 83

Match Reports:

http://www.mtnfootball.com/international/fifa-world-cup-2014/matches/preview/nov/15-togo-v-guinea-bissau.html

http://www.nfa.org.na/node/553

Sao Tome and Principe 1 - Congo 1; DR Congo 5 - Swaziland 1

Congo welcomed Sao Tome and Principe to Pointe Noire with a 5-0 lead in hand. Congo certainly wanted to repeat the performance they had put on in the first leg to please their home crowd. Congo could not find the same level of motivation that they had displayed in the first leg, which is understandable but not acceptable. The first period was goalless.

In the second half, Sao Tome scored their first goal of the 2014 FIFA World Cup four minutes after the restart. Congo were motivated enough to avoid losing at home to the lowest-ranked team in Africa, and the equalizer was netted just seven minutes later. The subpar performance saw Congo go through with a 1-1 draw in the second leg, but a 6-1 victory in the aggregate score. Congo go to the CAF Second Round, where they will play in Group E with Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Niger, all three of which are taking part in the 2012 African Cup of Nations.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo brought a 3-1 aggregate lead back home to Kinshasa as they looked to close out Swaziland. Captain Mabi Mputu opened DR Congo's account on the night quite early, but his goal was the only one in a 1-0 first half.

After the break, DR Congo came out on fire. Within sixteen minutes, Mputu had completed his brace, as had teammate Alain Kaluyituka, and DR Congo were rolling 4-0. Swaziland pulled on back two minutes after DR Congo's fourth, but DR Congo answered with its fifth just three minutes after Swaziland's opener. Five goals were scored in the first twenty-one minutes of the half, which afterwards ended quietly. DR Congo win the day 5-1 and the series 8-2, so they now join CAF Second Round Group I with Cameroon, Libya, and the winner between Togo and Guinea-Bissau.

Goals

Sao Tome and Principe

Orlando Gando 49

Congo

Francis N'Ganga 56

DR Congo

Mabi Mputu 7, 49

Alain Kaluyituka 46, 61

Ilunga Diba 66

Swaziland

Sdumo Shongwe 63

Match Reports:

http://www.mtnfootball.com/international/fifa-world-cup-2014/matches/reports/nov/15-congo-v-san-tome.html

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=32300

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuHyckoU8yo (DR Congo v. Swaziland)

Full Match Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKF9yNtIjcI (Sao Tome v. Congo)

Lesotho 2 - Burundi 2; Rwanda 3 - Eritrea 1

Lesotho, 1-0 winners at home in the first leg, made the trip to Bujumbura to face off with Burundi for a second time. Burundi also made the trip, but due to airline trouble, they landed at home late the night before the match whereas Lesotho had been in town for two days already. The lack of rest showed as Lesotho jumped all over their hosts by scoring twice in the first quarter of the match, taking a 3-0 aggregate lead in the series and forcing Burundi to score four unanswered goals to avoid an unexpected elimination. Burundi pulled one back at the half hour mark, and the halftime score read 2-1 in favor of Lesotho.

Lesotho knew their objective, and they held strong in defense. They conceded a late penalty which Burundi converted for an equalizer with two minutes to go in the match, but it was not enough for the home side as the 2-2 draw leaves them eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Lesotho win the series 3-2 on aggregate and join CAF Second Round Group D with Ghana, Zambia, and Sudan.

Eritrea visited Kigali to take on hosts Rwanda. The road match is Eritrea's first since their entire team defected at a match in Kenya in 2009. Rwanda did not plan on letting Eritrea leave with positive memories (though all 18 Eritrea players did fly back to Eritrea with the team). A goal less than five minutes into the proceedings gave Rwanda a 1-0 lead they would take into the half, and a 2-1 lead in the aggregate score after the first leg ended 1-1.

In the second period, no goals were scored until just twenty minutes remained. Rwanda scored twice in an eight-minute span to seal the match. Eritrea added a consolation goal just before the end of regulation, but the 3-1 home victory sends the Amavubi of Rwanda into the CAF Second Round, where they will face Algeria, Mali, and Benin in Group H. Eritrea are eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Goals

Lesotho

Thapelo Tale 16

Bokang Mothoana 23

Burundi

Cedric Amissi 29

Yamin Ndikumana 88 PK

Rwanda

Olivier Karekezi 4

Jean Claude Iranzi 71

Labama Kamana 78

Eritrea

Abraham Tedros 90

Match Reports:

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/sports/2011-11/16/c_131250128.htm

Madagascar 2 - Equatorial Guinea 1; Chad 1 - Tanzania 0; Kenya 4 - Seychelles 0

Madagascar came home to Antananarivo looking to overcome a two-goal deficit in the aggregate score against Equatorial Guinea. Equatorial Guinea had other plans in mind. Though they were the lower seed, Equatorial Guinea are going to take part in the upcoming 2012 African Cup of Nations, and they were looking to remain part of the FIFA World Cup action for 2014. A first half goal slightly beyond the midway point meant that Equatorial Guinea had taken a 3-0 lead in the aggregate with a road goal in hand. Madagascar needed to score four goals to avoid elimination. The first half ended 1-0 in favor of the visitors.

In the second half, Madagascar had to push forward. They managed a goal twenty minutes from time and the game-winner in stoppage time, but they fell short of the required four goals. Madagascar end their 2014 hopes with a 2-1 at home but a 3-2 loss in the aggregate score. Equatorial Guinea advance into CAF Second Round Group B with Tunisia, Cape Verde, and Sierra Leone.

Tanzania got the road win against Chad 2-1 four days ago, so they were supremely confident of finishing off the tie at home in Dar Es Salaam. However, the fans were to be treated to a disappointing performance. After playing better than the visitors for the first ten minutes or so, Chad started to take control of the match. However, neither side netted a goal in the first forty-five minutes.

The second period took just three minutes to see a goal. It was Chad's Mahamat Ahmat Labo, who scored their goal in the first leg, who scored Chad's goal in the second leg. Chad continued to push and push, but they were unable to net the second goal. Chad got a fine 1-0 win on the road to tie the aggregate score at 2-2; unfortunately for Chad, they were eliminate 2-1 on the road goals tiebreaker. Tanzania, in spite of qualifying for CAF Second Round Group C with Cote d'Ivoire, Morocco, and Gambia, were booed out of their home stadium. Surely losses at home in the next phase will spell doom to their qualification hopes.

The Harambee Stars were welcomed home to Nairobi with a 3-0 aggregate leg from their first leg win in Seychelles. Kenya were not satisfied with the three-goal advantage, though, and they sought a second win against their opponents. Seychelles got a quick one-on-one break to start the match, but a kick-save prevented a goal. After that, Kenya, as expected, thoroughly dominated the proceedings and scored thrice in the opening period to go up 3-0 at the break, including the opener from a header off a corner kick.

The second half was a bit calmer with Kenya making substitutions to give younger players a chance to perform on a global stage. Kenya did manage to best their margin of victory from the first leg after scoring for a fourth time. The 4-0 win sealed progression as Kenya win the series 7-0 and eliminate Seychelles. Kenya advance to CAF Second Round Group F and will face Nigeria, Malawi, and Namibia, barring a collapse against Djibouti.

Goals

Madagascar

Yvan 70

Ferdinand Ramanamahefa 90+2

Equatorial Guinea

Donvalla Elongue 26

Chad

Mahamat Ahmat Labo 48

Kenya

Brian Mandela 20

Dennis Oliech 38

Titus Mulama 45+1

Victor Wanyama 76

Match Reports:

http://www.mtnfootball.com/international/fifa-world-cup-2014/matches/reports/nov/15-madagascar-v-equatorial-guinea.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201111170488.html

http://allafrica.com/stories/201111160732.html

http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2011/11/15/2758380/kenya-4-0-seychelles-harambee-stars-rip-their-opponents

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=2000046804&cid=38&story=Kenya%20thrash%20Seychelles

http://www.nation.co.ke/News/Fans+joy+as+Stars+harvest+goals/-/1056/1274450/-/5boxmmz/-/

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4q4k-ybIafo (Kenya v. Seychelles)

Somalia 0 - Ethiopia 0

Somalia and Ethiopia (pictured) were made to wait a day to start their FIFA World Cup campaigns. Somalia's home match was moved to a neutral site due to civil unrest in the country, so the first leg was scheduled to be played in Djibouti. However, Djibouti was using its national stadium the day before, so thus Somalia and Ethiopia had to wait a day. Nevertheless, this meant the eyes of the world were upon this match as it was the only FIFA World Cup qualifier today. In the first half, the world did not get to see any goals as it finished 0-0.

An Ethiopia player received a red card in the 60th minute, giving Somalia a man advantage for a half hour. Somalia were unable to capitalize on this advantage, however, and the match remained scoreless until the final whistle: the final score, 0-0. On Wednesday, the two neighbors meet in Addis Ababa to decide the home-and-away series in its second leg.

Match reports:

http://www.ethiosports.com/2011/11/12/2014-fifa-world-cup-ethiopia-0-somalia-0/

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksA9uRXchBc

Guinea-Bissau 1 - Togo 1; Lesotho 1 - Burundi 0; DR Congo 3 - Swaziland 1

Guinea-Bissau hosted Togo in Bissau in the first leg of what was thought to be an easy draw for Togo, a team with experience in a FIFA World Cup finals tournament. Just beyond the hour mark, Togo found the opener, but they gave up a penalty just five minutes later. Guinea-Bissau converted for a 1-1 halftime score.

The second half so no change in the scoreline, so the teams will try to build upon their 1-1 draw in the return leg in four days' time. The biggest news to come out of this tie is that Emmanuel Adebayor (Tottenham) will be coming out of international retirement to suit up for Togo for the first time since the attack on the national team bus at the 2010 African Cup of Nations in Cabinda, Angola.

Swaziland welcomed the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Mbabane. DR Congo, home of club team TP Mazembe which finished runners-up at the 2010 FIFA Club World Cup, were prohibitive favorites at the outset of this home-and-away series. The Congolese found the net twice in a seven-minute span midway through the opening period, essentially ending the series before it reach the half hour mark. The second goal came from captain Mabi Mputu (pictured, #8). The two road goals have DR Congo a 2-0 halftime lead.

Swaziland were not going to go down quietly. They pulled a goal back off a crossbar rebound twenty minutes into the half, giving the sparse crowd something upon which to heap their hopes. However, DR Congo shattered their comeback hopes with a third goal eight minutes later and then parked the bus to secure the 3-1 victory.

Youth was served today in Maseru as the host side Lesotho took on Burundi with more than half of the Lesotho starting lineup having been called up from the side that miraculously qualified for the African Youth Championship recently. The Crocodiles were unable to break down Burundi in the first half, but their defense held up nicely as the game was knotted a zero at the break.

Late in the second period, Lehlomela Ramabele began a national hero for Lesotho, scoring the gamewinner with under ten minutes to play. Lesotho secured the upset win of the day, 1-0 over Burundi. Lesotho now travel to Burundi not only up in the aggregate score but also without having conceded a road goal. One Lesotho goal on Tuesday would force Burundi to score three to survive.

Goals

Togo

Serge Gakpe 32

Guinea-Bissau

Vasile de Carvalho 37 PK

DR Congo

Doko Kaluyituka 18

Mabi Mputu 24

Gladys Bokese 73

Swaziland

Sdumo Shongwe 65

Lesotho

Lehlomela Ramabele 81

Match Reports:

http://www.mtnfootball.com/international/fifa-world-cup-2014/matches/reports/nov/11-swaziland-v-dr-congo.html

http://www.observer.org.sz/index.php?news=32145

Tanzania 2 - Chad 1; Equatorial Guinea 2 - Madagascar 0; Congo 5 - Sao Tome and Principe 0

Chad had hopes of securing a good result in N'Djamena in their first leg encounter with Tanzania (pictured). 10,000 in the stands had the same hope, but it was Tanzania that opened the scoring just over ten minutes into the match. However, Chad showed up with an immediate equalizer to even the score one minute later. The match went into the next period knotted at one goal apiece.

The end of days occurred for Chad ten minutes from time when Tanzania blasted their net a second time. Tanzania saw the 2-1 lead through to the finish, so they head into their home leg extremely confident of securing advancing with two road goals in their back pocket.

2012 African Cup of Nations co-host Equatorial Guinea, fresh off a tie with Cameroon in a friendly, welcomed Madagascar to the facility in Malabo that will be hosting Africa's continental showpiece next year. A first half penalty kick conversion gave the hosts a 1-0 lead at the half. Madagascar dominated possession and the run of play before conceding the penalty.

The two teams continued to search for more goals. A dozen minutes from time, Equatorial Guinea added their second, which was scored after a penalty was awarded. When the dust settled, Madagascar found themselves on the wrong side of a 2-0 scoreline as they head home for the second leg in four days needing an equally impressive victory to overcome the deficit.

Congo went to Sao Tome to face Sao Tome and Principe in Sao Tome's first FIFA World Cup match since 2006 qualifying. Congo quickly made themselves at home with two goals in the opening eight minutes. Just past the half hour mark, Congo added their third, and the halftime scoreboard read 3-0.

Congo showed no mercy as they added another pair of goals in the second forty-five. They clearly are going to be the team that advances to the CAF Second Round after the second leg on Tuesday. Towards the end of the match, Kilson Ceita was sent off for Sao Tome and Francis Malonga was sent off for Congo, so both players will miss the return match on Tuesday. Congo won the day 5-0.

Goals

Tanzania

Mrisho Ngasa 11

Bakari Hamadi 80

Chad

Mahamat Ahmat Labo 12

Equatorial Guinea

Juvenal 23 PK

Randy 79

Congo

Christopher Missilou 3

Ladislas Douniama 8

Francis Malonga 32

Prince Oniangue 55

Harris Tchilimbou 70

Match Reports:

http://allafrica.com/stories/201111120158.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1542263/index.html

http://www.supersport.com/football/tanzania/news/111111/Tanzania_beat_Chad_in_Ndjamena

Eritrea 1 - Rwanda 1; Kenya 3 - Seychelles 0

Eritrea (pictured) took the field in front of the home fans in Asmara after having foregone the 2010 FIFA World Cup altogether, so Eritrea were excited to show their stuff. The crowd that was on hand was driven into a frenzy ten minutes before the halftime whistle as Eritrea scored a goal to take a 1-0 lead into the break.

Rwanda, however, did not wish to go back home for the second leg behind in the aggregate. Within seven minutes from the second-half kickoff, the Amavubi had equalized, and the two teams were unable to break the deadlock after that point. The series is tied on aggregate following today's 1-1 tie.

The Harambee Stars of Kenya were in Victoria to face hosts Seychelles. Though it took awhile, Kenya opened the lid on the Seychelles goal four minutes from time in the opening forty-five, giving themselves a 1-0 lead from which to build.

Star striker Dennis Oliech of Auxerre provided two goals in the second half, calmly leading the Harambee Stars to an insurmountable 3-0 advantage which proved to be the final scoreline. In four days, the teams two will meet again in Nairobi for what should be little more than a formality as Kenya look set to move into round two of qualifying.

Goals

Eritrea

Tesfalem Tekle 35

Rwanda

Elias Uzamukunda 52

Kenya

Pascal Ochieng 41

Dennis Oliech 75, 81

Match Reports:

http://ferwafa.com/amavubi/1896-2014-world-cup-qualifier-eritrea-1-1-rwanda

http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2011/11/11/2752706/seychelles-0-3-kenya-harambee-stars-humiliate-pirates

http://www.supersport.com/football/kenya/news/111111/Harambee_Stars_thrash_Seychelles

http://www.michezoafrika.com/harambee%20stars/kenya-cruise-past-seychelles-in-world-cup-qualifiers/3627.aspx

Highlights:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=izNOlr8VJpc (Eritrea v. Rwanda)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0R099emHFU (Kenya v. Seychelles)

Mozambique 1 - Comoros 0; Namibia 4 - Djibouti 0

Comoros hosted nearby Mozambique in their second ever home match in a FIFA World Cup. Just as they had in their 2012 African Cup of Nations qualifier is Mitsamiouli in October 2010, Comoros hung tough with highly favored Mozambique and saw out a scoreless first half.

However, much as in the 2010 meeting, Mozambique were able to score once and make the goal count for three points. In 2010, Mozambique were made to wait until stoppage time, but this time around a converted penalty kick provided the winner and a 1-0 scoreline. Mozambique take the vital road goal back home for the second leg in four days.

Namibia striker Rudolf Bester (pictured) of Orlando Pirates was the star of the day in Djibouti as Namibia paid a visit. Bester provided the only goal of the first half at the quarter hour mark. Namibia lead 1-0 at the break.

Lazarus Kaimbi came on as a substitute for Namibia to try to put the game out of reach for hosts Djibouti. Bester assisted a Kaimbi goal five minutes after the restart and Kaimbi assisted a Bester goal fifteen minutes later to put the game beyond doubt. One final goal fell, and Namibia win 4-0 in Djibouti and look almost certain to advance to the CAF Second Round.

Goals:

Mozambique

Miro 56 PK

Namibia

Rudolf Bester 15, 69

Lazarus Kaimbi 50

Sydney Urikhob 84

Match Reports:

http://www.namibiasport.com.na/node/20894

Preview: CONMEBOL Matchdays Three and Four, CAF First Round

On CONMEBOL Matchday Three, Peru find themselves free, whereas Uruguay find themselves free on Matchday Four. Uruguay for one will be glad to have one open date with the absence of all-time leading scorer Diego Forlan to injury. In addition, Uruguay will be missing Abel Hernandez, Jorge Fucile, and Walter Gargano to injury, adding to the difficulty imposed by the suspension of Maxi Perreira. Uruguay will be facing Chile at home.

Ecuador is also feeling the pain. Both of their goalscorers from their opening win over Venezuela will be out against Paraguay through injury. Luis "Chucho" Benitez and Jaime Ayovi are joined in the injury ward by Segundo Castillo, though there is hope that Ayovi will be back in time to face Peru.

Chile will be missing a multitude of players for its clashes with Uruguay and Paraguay, both these were self-inflicted wounds. Jorge Valdivia, Jean Beasejour, Gonzalo Jara, Carlos Carmona, and Arturo Vidal have all been suspended by their coach for arriving late and drunk to a team function. Five domestic-based players replaced these mainstays in the Chilean squad.

Camilo Zuñiga will miss Colombia's home opener against Venezuela as he remains in Italy awaiting the birth of his child, so Colombia will have to pick up the slack. However, the appearances of Roberto Rosales, Franklin Lucena, and goal-scoring hero Fernando Amorebieta remain in doubt for the visiting Venezuelans as those players try to recuperate from injuries.

Even mighty Argentina have felt the pain recently as Angel di Maria has been left off their roster after tearing a thigh muscle in Real Madrid's latest match.

Predictions:
Matchday Three: Argentina defeat Bolivia, Uruguay defeat Chile, Venezuela defeat Colombia, Ecuador tie Paraguay

Matchday Four: Argentina defeat Colombia, Ecuador defeat Peru, Paraguay tie Chile, Venezuela defeat Bolivia

Argentina at Colombia 15:00 Barranquilla

Peru at Ecuador 15:00 Quito

Paraguay at Chile 17:30 Santiago

Bolivia at Venezuela 19:00 San Cristobal

Africa begins its qualification cycle this week with eleven two-legged home-and-away series to determine the final eleven teams in the CAF Second Round, which commences next June. In spite of the absences of star player McDonald Mariga (Real Sociedad) and Mike Baraza, Kenya will have enough to defeat Seychelles. Other lopsided victors will include Togo over Guinea-Bissau, Namibia over Djibouti, Mozambique over Comoros, Ethiopia over Somalia, Burundi over Lesotho, Congo DR over Swaziland, and Congo over Sao Tome and Principe.

More intriguing matchups include Madagascar against Equatorial Guinea, co-hosts of the 2012 African Cup of Nations. Equatorial Guinea managed a recent draw against Cameroon and thus are tipped as favorites. Tanzania and Chad are both on terrible runs of form, but Tanzania gets the nod after drawing Algeria home and away in 2012 Cup of Nations qualifying. Eritrea is also a goldmine for footballing talent, but the lack of government support dooms the development of the squad, so Rwanda will win.

Match Previews:

http://www.meridiano.com.ve/futbol_internacional/noticia.asp?registro=223488#comentar

http://www.meridiano.com.ve/futbol_internacional/noticia.asp?registro=223509

http://www.meridiano.com.ve/futbol_internacional/noticia.asp?registro=223403

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1540221/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1539969/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1535689/index.html

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1539913/index.html

Squad Lists:

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1538734/index.html (Argentina)

http://www.soccerway.com/news/2011/November/09/kimanzi-names-kenya-squad/ (Kenya)

http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/preliminaries/news/newsid=1540193/index.html (Kenya)

Match Schedule: November 2011

November marks the start of qualifying for both Africa and Oceania, meaning that only Europe will have yet to start its qualifying campaign. The Third Round in Asia goes through Matchdays Four and Five. The CONCACAF Second Round draws to a close this month. CONMEBOL will witness Matchdays Three and Four of its eighteen-matchday marathon. This month is guaranteed to provide four eliminations in North America, three in Oceania, and a whopping twelve in Africa. A few Asian teams are likely to fall by the wayside as well.

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

11 November 2011 (AFC Third Round Matchday Four)

Japan at Tajikistan 3:00 Dushanbe

South Korea at United Arab Emirates 6:45 Dubai

North Korea at Uzbekistan 7:00 Tashkent

Australia at Oman 8:00 Muscat

China at Iraq 8:15 Doha, Qatar

Lebanon at Kuwait 8:30 Kuwait City

Singapore at Jordan 9:00 Amman

Iran at Bahrain 9:30 Manama

Indonesia at Qatar 10:00 Doha

Thailand at Saudi Arabia 10:30 Riyadh

11 November 2011 (CAF First Round First Legs)

Namibia at Djibouti 6:00 Djibouti

Mozambique at Comoros 6:00 Mitsamiouli

Rwanda at Eritrea 6:30 Asmara

Kenya at Seychelles 7:00 Roche Caiman

Liberia at Mauritius 8:00 Bellevue

Madagascar at Equatorial Guinea 9:00 Malabo

Tanzania at Chad 9:00 N'Djamena

Congo at Sao Tome and Principe 9:00 Sao Tome

Togo at Guinea-Bissau 10:00 Bissau

DR Congo at Swaziland 11:00 Lobamba

Burundi at Lesotho 12:00 Maseru

11 November 2011 (CONCACAF Second Round Matchday Five)

Cayman Islands at Dominican Republic 14:00 San Cristobal

Curacao at U.S. Virgin Islands 14:30 Frederiksted

El Salvador at Suriname 16:00 Paramaribo

St. Vincent and the Grenadines at Belize 16:00 Belmopan

Puerto Rico at St. Lucia 17:00 Gros Islet

Barbados at Bermuda 18:00 Hamilton

Haiti at Antigua and Barbuda 18:00 North Sound

Trinidad and Tobago at Guyana 19:00 Providence

Canada at St. Kitts and Nevis 19:00 Basseterre

Dominica at Nicaragua 20:00 Managua

Grenada at Guatemala 21:00 Guatemala City

11 November 2011 (CONMEBOL Matchday Three)

Bolivia at Argentina 14:00 Buenos Aires

Chile at Uruguay 16:00 Montevideo

Venezuela at Colombia 18:00 Barranquilla

Ecuador at Paraguay 18:00 Asuncion

12 November 2011 (CAF First Round First Legs)

Ethiopia at Somalia 6:45 Djibouti, Djibouti

14 November 2011 (CONCACAF Second Round Matchday Six)

Bermuda at Barbados 18:00 Hamilton, Bermuda

St. Lucia at Puerto Rico 18:00 Bayamon

Dominican Republic at Cayman Islands 18:30 George Town

15 November 2011 (AFC Third Round Matchday Five)

Japan at North Korea 1:00 Pyongyang

Australia at Thailand 5:00 Bangkok

South Korea at Lebanon 5:30 Beirut

China at Singapore 5:30 Singapore

Iran at Indonesia 6:00 Jakarta

Tajikistan at Uzbekistan 7:00 Tashkent

United Arab Emirates at Kuwait 8:30 Kuwait City

Iraq at Jordan 9:00 Amman

Bahrain at Qatar 10:00 Doha

Oman at Saudi Arabia 10:30 Riyadh

15 November 2011 (CAF First Round Second Legs)

Equatorial Guinea at Madagascar 5:30 Antananarivo

Chad at Tanzania 7:00 Dar Es Salaam

Seychelles at Kenya 7:00 Nairobi

Lesotho at Burundi 7:30 Bujumbura

Eritrea at Rwanda 7:30 Kigali

Swaziland at DR Congo 8:30 Kinshasa

Sao Tome and Principe at Congo 8:30 Pointe-Noire

Guinea-Bissau at Togo 9:30 Lome

Comoros at Mozambique 11:00 Maputo

Djibouti at Namibia 12:00 Windhoek

Mauritius at Liberia 14:00 Monrovia

15 November 2011 (CONCACAF Second Round Matchday Six)

Guatemala at Grenada 14:00 St. George's

Belize at St. Vincent and the Grenadines 14:00 Kingstown

Guyana at Trinidad and Tobago 16:00 Port of Spain

St. Kitts and Nevis at Canada 18:00 Toronto

U.S. Virgin Islands at Curacao 19:00 Willemstad

Antigua and Barbuda at Haiti 19:00 Port-au-Prince

Dominica at Panama 20:00 Panama City

Suriname at El Salvador 20:30 San Salvador

15 November 2011 (CONMEBOL Matchday Four)

Argentina at Colombia 15:00 Barranquilla

Peru at Ecuador 15:00 Quito

Paraguay at Chile 17:30 Santiago

Bolivia at Venezuela 19:00 San Cristobal

16 November 2011 (CAF First Round Second Leg)

Somalia at Ethiopia 7:00 Addis Ababa

22 November 2011 (OFC First Round Matchday One)

Tonga vs. American Samoa 19:00 Apia, Samoa

Cook Islands at Samoa 21:30 Apia

24 November 2011 (OFC First Round Matchday Two)

Cook Islands vs. American Samoa 19:00 Apia, Samoa

Tonga at Samoa 21:30 Apia

26 November 2011 (OFC First Round Matchday Three)

American Samoa at Samoa 19:00 Apia

Cook Islands vs. Tonga 21:30 Apia, Samoa

Africa Round One Draw

The first round of CAF qualifying will feature twenty-four teams matched up in twelve home-and-away aggregate-goals series with the twelve winners advancing to the second round. The CAF First Round matches are scheduled for 11 November 2011 and 15 November 2011. The lower seed will host the first leg, and the higher seed will host the second leg.

The higher seeded team is listed first. The number before the matchup is the series number that corresponds to the placement of the series winner in the second round group phase.

1: Kenya - Seychelles

2: Togo - Guinea-Bissau

3: Namibia - Djibouti

4: Liberia - Mauritius

5: Mozambique - Comoros

6: Madagascar - Equatorial Guinea

7: Ethiopia - Somalia

8: Burundi - Lesotho

9: Rwanda-. Eritrea

10: Democratic Republic of Congo - Swaziland

11: Congo - Sao Tome e Principe

12: Chad - Tanzania

Quite honestly, I do not see any of the lower seeds advancing. The closest matchup may be Equatorial Guinea, who are now pulling in Spanish players of Equatorial Guinean descent into the national side, but Madagascar have been a tough side recently. Madagascar drew Cote d'Ivoire and Mozambique in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and defeated Botswana.

The marquee matchup involves DR Congo and Swaziland. DR Congo were the first African team to grace a FIFA World Cup finals in 1974 but have not returned since. Swaziland defeated Togo and tied Zambia in the 2010 FIFA World Cup.