Twenty Teams, Five Places: Final African Qualifying Groups for World Cup 2010
The FIFA suits gathered in Zurich this afternoon to draw the remaining 20 African World Cup hopefuls into five groups of four for the final round of South Africa 2010 qualifying. Video of the draw here, but I wouldn’t recommending watching. It’s an excruciatingly slow-moving business (though it’s fun to hear Sepp Blatter via an interpreter).
The final stage is a tough business in CAF: five groups of four teams each, and only the winners of each group make it the World Cup. Second place just means first loser and no competitive football in June/July 2010. Here’s how the groups came out:
Group A
Togo
Cameroon
Morocco
Gabon
Group B
Mozambique
Nigeria
Kenya
Tunisia
Group C
Rwanda
Algeria
Egypt
Zambia
Group D
Ghana
Benin
Sudan
Mali
Group E
Côte d’Ivoire
Malawi
Burkina Faso
Guinea
Of the five top seeds, Cameroon probably got the toughest draw as they’ll have to fight it out with both Togo and Morocco. Seems rough on Cameroon given that they’re the highest ranked African team right now (currently 12th). Egypt seem to have been handed a much easier task, and the back to back Africa Cup of Nations winners will expect to see off Rwanda, Algeria and Zambia.
The good news is that there are plenty of consolation prizes to go around, because these group stages double as Africa Cup of Nations 2010 qualifiers. There are 15 spots up for grabs (hosts Angola make it 16 teams total) so the top three in each group will qualify for the tournament. So basically, don’t finish bottom.
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Comments
By kovolikessoccer | October 22nd, 2008 at 10:41 am 
I really hope Nigeria can pull it off, I’ve been rooting for them since day one.
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By Matt | October 22nd, 2008 at 11:42 am Oh man A and B are absurd. I think we’ll finally get to see this Egypt team on the biggest stage. Hopefully they make it and we can see what they can do. There could easily be 3 North African teams when all is said and done (Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia) possibly even 4 if Sudan can get some results. Interesting.
By Rami | October 22nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm yea Matt, its crazy how things worked out like that for the North African sides. Last time around I was sad that Tunisia had to knock out Morocco on the way to Germany. You think B is really absurd though? I think its pretty clean cut: Either Nigeria or Tunisia is going to qualify.
I agree with your opinion of A though and would add E to that. Burkina Faso comes better than advertised (we learned that the hard way) and Malawi and Guinea will do their best to give Cote d’Ivoire some problems.
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By shane | October 22nd, 2008 at 3:31 pm I agree with Rami on Group B. It would be a massive shocker if Tunisia or Nigeria didn’t come out of that group. I feel Groups A, D and E are all wide open. If Egypt fail out of group C then that is a big indictment of the two times reigning African champs.
By misa | October 23rd, 2008 at 10:55 pm when do the matches for the last qualifying stage starts?
By Daryl | October 24th, 2008 at 11:57 am By tk mwale | October 28th, 2008 at 2:11 am Groups A,D and E are indeed wide open.Egypt face a tough task against Zambia as they play the same style of football as Malawi who has caused Egypt problems not only this qualifier but the last qualifiers and friendlies alike.Malawi was the spoiler in the last qualifier now I believe Zambia will be the spoiler in this group.Whoever wins the tie with Zambia will win the group.As for group D Benin is well ranked and will prove to be a spoiler and so goes my conclusion whoever wins the tie with Benin will make it through.Group E is also wide open as all teams are west African.The toughest team to beat will be Malawi as the only southern African Country.This team is a spoiler and probably will bring wonders to this tournament.The Egyptians know better,and like in the last qualifier whoever wins the tie will top this group.
By adeola famakinwa | October 29th, 2008 at 11:40 am tanx caf 4 seeding the big teams in africa just pray that all the best teams should come out victorious and represent us very well at the tornament
By shaff | November 21st, 2008 at 4:19 pm the grup D no one can stop the black stars of Ghana with Sulama muntari,steven Apiah,Agogo,and the jaint at bacb Jhon mensah,not forgothing Asian,it shall be well with black stars to the wrld cup 2010,i cant wait to see that.
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