FIFA and CAF have agreed to postpone the CAF group phase of qualifiers for the 2022 Men’s World Cup. The start of the round has been moved from JUN 2021 to SEP 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 40 teams in the group phase will now begin play during the FIFA international period of MON 30 AUG-TUE 07 SEP 2021. When the group phase ends on TUE 16 NOV 2021, the first placed team in each group advances to the playoffs, which are now scheduled for MON 21-TUE 29 MAR 2022.