CAF reveals qualifying format for 2014 World Cup

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the qualifying format for the continental qualifiers for the 2014 FIFA World Cup scheduled for Brazil.

The unveiling of the format comes ahead of the draw slated for July 30
in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Information gathered by GNA Sports from the CAF website has it that the format was approved by the Executive Committee of the continent’s soccer governing body on Monday in Cairo, Egypt.

According to CAF, 52 of the 53 affiliated National Associations will take part in the qualifying series that will give birth to the continent’s five representatives for the Mundial.

“The qualifying series will begin with a preliminary round involving the 24-bottom FIFA ranked teams according to the latest edition of the FIFA rankings.

“The 12 teams to qualify from the preliminary round will join the 28 teams, who are on a stand bye for the next phase,” the CAF statement read.

The statement said the surviving teams will be divided into 10 groups of four teams each to play on a round-robin basis, with the group winners advancing to the play-offs.

The qualified 10 teams will then be paired to play on a home and away basis to determine the final five teams to represent the Africa continent for the 2014 World Cup.

In all, 154 matches will played between November 2011 and November 2013.

Ghana’s Black Stars were present at the last two editions of the World Cup in 2006 (Germany) and 2010 (South Africa).

Meanwhile, the Executive Committee have also nominated Suketu Patel of Seychelles and Almamy Kabele of Guinea as First and Second Vice Presidents respectively of CAF.

The appointment of the duo will be approved at the next CAF General Assembly in 2012.

Source: GNA