The Desert Foxes of Algeria are in the Men’s World Cup for the first time since 1986 as they defeated Egypt 1-0 in a playoff for the CAF Group C title. Antar YAHIA scored the spectacular winner in the 39th minute when he volleyed in a lob from Karim ZIANI off the underside of the bar. The match, played at Sudan’s National Stadium in Omdurman, was necessitated when the Pharaohs defeated Algeria 2-0 on the last day of Group C action, leaving the teams deadlocked atop the group on all tiebreaking criteria.

A quick summary of action around the CAF second group phase on the weekend of SAT 14-SUN 15 NOV 2009. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second group phase on the weekend of SAT 10-SUN 11 OCT 2009. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second group phase on the weekend of SAT 05-SUN 06 SEP 2009. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second group phase on the weekend of SAT 20-SUN 21 JUN 2009. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second group phase on the weekend of SAT 06-SUN 07 JUN 2009. more...

A stampede of supporters and the collapse of a stadium wall have resulted in 19 deaths prior to the CAF second group phase Group E match between Côte d’Ivoire and Malawi. Large numbers turned out at Stade Félix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan hoping to see the match on SUN 29 MAR 2009; according to reports, spectators were pushed into a wall that collapsed, and the resulting panic in the crowd led police to fire tear gas. 19 were killed, and 132 injured, in the crush. The match was allowed to go ahead. A similar incident occurred at an earlier 2010 Men’s World Cup qualifying match between Liberia and Gambia on SUN 01 JUN 2008, leaving ten dead.

A quick summary of action around the CAF second group phase on the weekend of SAT 28-SUN 29 MAR 2009. more...

The draw for the CAF third round of qualifiers for South Africa 2010 was not kind to Togo, Cameroon, or Morocco, all of whom ended up together in Group A. Burkina Faso’s strong performance in the second round earns them a meeting with Côte d’Ivoire in Group E, whilst Mali and Sudan are together again in Group D with Ghana and Benin. Only group winners qualify from this round, which begins in MAR 2009. more...

The draw for the CAF third round of 2010 Men’s World Cup qualifiers is due to take place on WED 22 OCT 2008. The twenty teams that survived the second round are to be drawn into five groups of four, with seedings based on the FIFA world rankings of OCT 2008. Each group consists of one team from each pot. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second round on the weekend of FRI 10-SUN 12 OCT 2008. more...

Ethiopia’s suspension from FIFA has resulted in its dismissal from the qualifiers for the 2010 Men’s World Cup. FIFA ruled on FRI 12 SEP 2008 to disqualify Ethiopia, which had been suspended as a result of a dispute over the leadership of the Ethiopian Football Federation, and annul all of their matches in CAF second round Group 8. The beneficiaries of this decision are Rwanda, now the fifth team to earn a place in the third round. Even if Morocco defeat Mauritania to take first place on the group’s last day, Rwanda’s nine points from four matches will see them through as one of the top eight second placed teams.

A quick summary of action around the CAF second round on the weekend of FRI 05-SUN 07 SEP 2008. more...

The 2010 Men’s World Cup qualifier between Ethiopia and Morocco, scheduled for SUN 07 SEP 2008, has been postponed due to Ethiopia’s suspension. The Ethiopian Football Federation was suspended on TUE 29 JUL 2008 after it failed to implement a roadmap, negotiated by FIFA and CAF, intended to resolve a dispute involving the EFF’s leadership. The fate of the match and of CAF Group 8 is still to be decided.

A quick summary of action around the CAF second round on the weekend of FRI 20-MON 23 JUN 2008. more...

A quick summary of action around the CAF second round on the weekend of FRI 13-SUN 15 JUN 2008. more...