2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Qualification for championships (CAF)
FIFA World Cup
Africa Cup of Nations

This page details the process of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification phase. Forty-six African nations, including hosts Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, entered the competition. Gabon and Equatorial Guinea automatically qualified as host countries. The other 44 nations were drawn into eleven groups, each containing 4 teams. Togo was later added to Group K after its reinstatement.

In each group, teams played each other home and away in a round-robin format. The top team in each group qualified, as did the runner-up of Group K (which contained 5 teams) and the two best runners-up from the other groups.[1]

Qualified teams[edit]

  To be determined
  Qualified
  Did not qualify
  Did not enter
  Not part of CAF

The teams qualified are:

Country Qualified as Date qualification was secured Previous appearances in tournament
 Gabon 00Co-hosts 0329 July 2007 4 (1994, 1996, 2000, 2010)
 Equatorial Guinea 0 (debut)
 Botswana 01Group K Winner 0026 March 2011 0 (debut)
 Ivory Coast 01Group H Winner 005 June 2011 18 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 19842, 1986, 1988, 1990, 19921, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010)
 Burkina Faso 01Group F Winner 003 September 2011 7 (1978, 1996, 19982, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010)
 Senegal 01Group E Winner 03 September 2011 11 (1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 19922, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)
 Ghana 01Group I Winner 008 October 2011 17 (196312, 19651, 1968, 1970, 197812, 1980, 19821, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 20002, 2002, 2006, 20082, 2010)
 Guinea 01Group B Winner 008 October 2011 10 (1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2004, 2008)
 Zambia 01Group C Winner 008 October 2011 14 (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010)
 Libya 01Top Two Runner-up 008 October 2011 2 (19822, 2006)
 Angola 01Group J Winner 008 October 2011 5 (1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 20102)
 Tunisia 01Group K Runner-up 008 October 2011 14 (1962, 1963, 19652, 1978, 1982, 19942, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 200412, 2006, 2008, 2010)
 Mali 01Group A Winner 008 October 2011 6 (1972, 1994, 20022, 2004, 2008, 2010)
 Niger 01Group G Winner 008 October 2011 0 (debut)
 Morocco 01Group D Winner 009 October 2011 13 (1972, 19761, 1978, 1980, 1986, 19882, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008)
 Sudan 01Top Two Runner-up 009 October 2011 7 (19572, 1959, 1963, 197012, 1972, 1976, 2008)
1 Bold indicates champion for that year
2 Italic indicates host

Draw[edit]

CAF conducted the draw for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on 20 February 2010. The draw was held in Lubumbashi, Congo DR where the CAF Super Cup was held on 21 February 2010.[2] The 11 teams in Pot 1 were selected based on their ranking after the 27th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Angola. The rest were ranked based on their position at the latest FIFA Ranking.[3][4]

Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

 Egypt
 Ghana
 Nigeria
 Algeria
 Cameroon
 Angola
 Zambia
 Ivory Coast
 Burkina Faso
 Mali
 Tunisia

 Morocco
 Benin
 Uganda
 South Africa
 Malawi
 Mozambique
 Guinea
 Senegal
 Gambia
 Cape Verde
 Congo

 Rwanda
 Tanzania
 Sudan
 Namibia
 Congo DR
 Kenya
 Libya
 Zimbabwe
 Botswana
 Ethiopia
 Sierra Leone

 Swaziland
 Chad
 Burundi
 Madagascar
 Liberia
 Niger
 Comoros
 Mauritius
 Mauritania
 Central African Republic
 Guinea-Bissau

Notes

Togolese Ban[edit]

Togo were banned from the 2012 and 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments by CAF after they withdrew from the 2010 tournament following a deadly attack on their team bus.[5]

Togo appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, with FIFA president Sepp Blatter stepping in to mediate. The ban was subsequently lifted with immediate effect on 14 May 2010, after a meeting of the CAF Executive Committee. Togo were readmitted to the 2012 and 2013 tournaments, and (in the case of the 2012 qualifiers) added to the qualification stage.[6]

Tie-breaking rules[edit]

The order of tie-breakers used when two or more team have the equal number of points is:[7] (article 14)

  1. Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned;
  2. Goal difference in games between the teams concerned;
  3. Goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
  4. Away goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
  5. Goal difference in all games;
  6. Goals scored in all games;
  7. Drawing of lots.

Qualifying group stage[edit]

Legend
Group winners, Group K runner-up, and top two runners-up in all other groups qualify for the finals

Group A[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  MLI  CPV  ZIM  LBR
 Mali 6 3 1 2 9 6 +3 10[a] 3–0 1–0 2–1
 Cape Verde 6 3 1 2 7 7 0 10[a] 1–0 2–1 4–2
 Zimbabwe 6 2 2 2 7 5 +2 8 2–1 0–0 3–0
 Liberia 6 1 2 3 7 12 −5 5 2–2 1–0 1–1
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Mali and Cape Verde are ranked by their head-to-head records
Head-to-head
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Mali 2 1 0 1 3 1 +2 3
 Cape Verde 2 1 0 1 1 3 −2 3
Source: [citation needed]
Cape Verde 1–0 Mali
Varela 44' Report
Mali 2–1 Liberia
A. Traoré 2'
Teekloh 52' (o.g.)		 Report Weeks 43'
Zimbabwe 0–0 Cape Verde
Report
Referee: Gil Sebastian Ndume (Gabon)[9]
Cape Verde 4–2 Liberia
Héldon Ramos 14', 45+1'
Babanco 25'
Fortes 53'		 Report Wleh 39'
Këïta 84'
Referee: Lemghaifry Ould Ali (Mauritania)
Zimbabwe 2–1 Mali
Musona 45', 90' (pen.) Report M. Traoré 52'
Mali 3–0 Cape Verde
Diabaté 27', 29'
M. Traoré 51'		 Report
Zimbabwe 3–0 Liberia
Katsande 16'
Karuru 45'
Billiat 85'		 Report

Group B[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  GUI  NGA  ETH  MAD
 Guinea 6 4 2 0 13 5 +8 14 1–0 1–0 4–1
 Nigeria 6 3 2 1 12 5 +7 11 2–2 4–0 2–0
 Ethiopia 6 2 1 3 8 13 −5 7 1–4 2–2 4–2
 Madagascar 6 0 1 5 4 14 −10 1 1–1 0–2 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Ethiopia 1–4 Guinea
Oukri 29' Report Yattara 37'
Kalabane 45'
K. Cissé 60'
Zayatte 75'
Referee: Tabani Mnkantjo (Zimbabwe)[10]
Nigeria 2–0 Madagascar
Martins 19'
Eneramo 45+1'		 Report
Referee: Slim Jedidi (Tunisia)[10]
Madagascar 0–1 Ethiopia
Report Lemessa 62'
Referee: Ngosi Kalyoto (Malawi)[11]
Guinea 1–0 Nigeria
Constant 8' Report
Referee: Elahrach Bouchaib (Morocco)[11]
Nigeria 4–0 Ethiopia
Utaka 1', 53'
I. Uche 78', 90'		 Report
Ethiopia 2–2 Nigeria
Said 45', 50' Report K. Uche 27'
Yobo 86'

Group C[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  ZAM  LBY  MOZ  COM
 Zambia 6 4 1 1 11 2 +9 13 0–0 3–0 4–0
 Libya 6 3 3 0 6 1 +5 12 1–0 1–0 3–0
 Mozambique 6 2 1 3 4 6 −2 7 0–2 0–0 3–0
 Comoros 6 0 1 5 2 14 −12 1 1–2 1–1 0–1
Source: [citation needed]
Zambia 4–0 Comoros
Kalaba 6'
Tembo 22'
Chamanga 29'
Mayuka 83'		 Report
Referee: Amanuel Eyob Russom (Eritrea)[12]
Mozambique 0–0 Libya
Report
Referee: Aboubabar Bangoura (Guinea)[12]
Comoros 0–1 Mozambique
Report Josemar 90+1'
Referee: Ibada Ramadhan Kibo (Tanzania)[13]
Libya 1–0 Zambia
Sa'ad 36' Report
Referee: Gassama Papa (Gambia)[13]
Mozambique 0–2 Zambia
Report Chamanga 18'
Mayuka 90'
Zambia 3–0 Mozambique
C. Katongo 47', 67'
Mbesuma 68'		 Report
Comoros 1–1 Libya
Mzé Mbaba 83' Report Boussefi 43'
Libya 1–0 Mozambique
Allafi 31' Report
Referee: Fahim Omar (Egypt)
Zambia 0–0 Libya
Report
Notes

Group D[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  MAR  CTA  ALG  TAN
 Morocco 6 3 2 1 8 2 +6 11 0–0 4–0 3–1
 Central African Republic 6 2 2 2 5 5 0 8[a] 0–0 2–0 2–1
 Algeria 6 2 2 2 5 8 −3 8[a] 1–0 2–0 1–1
 Tanzania 6 1 2 3 6 9 −3 5 0–1 2–1 1–1
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Central African Republic and Algeria could not be separated by head-to-head record, so instead ranking was based on overall goal difference.
  • Note: The ranking of the Central African Republic and Algeria by their head-to-head records is shown below. As they could not be separated on these criteria, ranking was based on overall goal difference.
head-to-head
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD AG Pts
1  Central African Republic 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 3
2  Algeria 2 1 0 1 2 2 0 0 3
Source: [citation needed]
Algeria 1–1 Tanzania
Guedioura 45' Report Tegete 33'
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Kokou Djaoupe (Togo)[17]
Morocco 0–0 Central African Republic
Report
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)[17]
Tanzania 0–1 Morocco
Report El Hamdaoui 43'
Referee: Seechurn Rajindraparsad (Mauritius)[18]
Central African Republic 2–0 Algeria
Dopékoulouyen 81'
Momi 85'		 Report
Referee: Hélder Martins De Carvalho (Angola)[18]
Algeria 1–0 Morocco
Yebda 5' (pen.) Report
Referee: Seechurn Rajindraparsad (Mauritius)
Central African Republic 2–1 Tanzania
Momi 38'
Dopékoulouyen 88'		 Report Nditi 76'
Referee: Joseph Lamptey (Ghana)
Tanzania 1–1 Algeria
Samatta 22' Report Bouazza 52'
Referee: Ali Lenghaifry (Mauritania)

Group E[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  SEN  CMR  COD  MRI
 Senegal 6 5 1 0 16 2 +14 16 1–0 2–0 7–0
 Cameroon 6 3 2 1 12 5 +7 11 0–0 1–1 5–0
 DR Congo 6 2 1 3 10 11 −1 7 2–4 2–3 3–0
 Mauritius 6 0 0 6 2 22 −20 0 0–2 1–3 1–2
Source: [citation needed]
Mauritius 1–3 Cameroon
Bru 45+1' (pen.) Report Eto'o 39', 47'
Choupo-Moting 63' (pen.)
Attendance: 6,000
DR Congo 2–4 Senegal
Kabangu 42', 71' Report Sow 6'
Niang 12', 22', 57' (pen.)
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Djamel Hamoudi (Algeria)[19]
Cameroon 1–1 DR Congo
Nkulukutu 54' (o.g.) Report Diba Ilunga 37'
Attendance: 22,000
Senegal 7–0 Mauritius
Cissé 8', 38', 76'
Niang 22', 62'
Sow 47'
Estazie 90' (o.g.)		 Report
Attendance: 50,000
Mauritius 1–2 DR Congo
Bru 11' (pen.) Report Diba Ilunga 20'
Kabangu 45+1'
Attendance: 6,000
DR Congo 2–3 Cameroon
Kaluyituka 11'
Kanda 40'		 Report Eto'o 18'
Mbuta 75'
Choupo-Moting 79'
Mauritius 0–2 Senegal
Report N'Doye 9'
Cissé 25'

Group F[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  BFA  GAM  NAM  MTN
 Burkina Faso 4 3 1 0 12 3 +9 10 3–1 4–0
 Gambia 4 1 1 2 5 6 −1 4 1–1 3–1
 Namibia 4 1 0 3 3 11 −8 3 1–4 1–0
 Mauritania 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
  • Mauritania withdrew from 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification before any match was played.[21]
Gambia 3–1 Namibia
Nyassi 10'
Ceesay 13'
Jallow 44'		 Report Risser 89'
Referee: Mohamed Ragab Omar (Libya)[22]
Burkina Faso 3–1 Gambia
Dagano 17'
Balima 58'
Kaboré 68'		 Report Ceesay 75'
Referee: Samir Osman (Egypt)[23]
Burkina Faso 4–0 Namibia
A. Traoré 26', 47', 79'
Gariseb 73' (o.g.)		 Report
Referee: Adam Cordier (Chad)
Namibia 1–0 Gambia
Shipahu 83' Report
Notes
  • The Namibia Football Association made a formal complaint that Burkina Faso fielded an ineligible player, Yaoundé-born Herve Xavier Zengue, in the games on 26 March and 4 June.[24] Burkina Faso coach Paulo Duarte says that the player is eligible as he has a Burkinabé wife.[25] CAF opened an investigation,[26] but later dismissed the protest saying it was filed long after the stipulated period for such appeals.[27]
  • Namibia indicated that they would appeal the decision to CAF and, if necessary, to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on two different points. Firstly that an appeal had been filed with the match referee prior to their game with Burkina Faso but had not been forwarded to CAF and secondly that such an appeal was in any case not required due to article 36.12 of the competition regulations which stated that "non-qualified or a suspended player to take part in group matches shall lose the match by penalty (3–0), even in the absence of protests/reservations".[28]
  • On 10 January 2012, their appeal was dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.[29]

Group G[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  NIG  RSA  SLE  EGY
 Niger 6 3 0 3 6 8 −2 9[a] 2–1 3–1 1–0
 South Africa 6 2 3 1 4 2 +2 9[a] 2–0 0–0 1–0
 Sierra Leone 6 2 3 1 5 5 0 9[a] 1–0 0–0 2–1
 Egypt 6 1 2 3 5 5 0 5 3–0 0–0 1–1
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b c Niger, South Africa and Sierra Leone are ranked by their head-to-head records.
head-to-head
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
 Niger 4 2 0 2 5 5 0 6
 South Africa 4 1 2 1 3 2 +1 5
 Sierra Leone 4 1 2 1 2 3 −1 5
Source: [citation needed]
South Africa 2–0 Niger
Mphela 12'
Parker 45+3'		 Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Khalid Abdel Rahman (Sudan)[30]
Egypt 1–1 Sierra Leone
Fathalla 61' Report Mustapha Bangura 57'
Referee: Badara Diatta (Senegal)[30]
Niger 1–0 Egypt
Maâzou 34' Report
Attendance: 35,000
Sierra Leone 0–0 South Africa
Report
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Ali Lemghaifry (Mauritania)[31]
South Africa 1–0 Egypt
Mphela 90+3' Report
Attendance: 55,000
Niger 2–1 South Africa
Koffi 10'
Maazou 47'		 Report Jali 70'
Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)
Egypt 3–0 Niger
Mohsen 48', 71'
Salah 66'		 Report
Notes
  • The South African Football Association lodged a complaint against their elimination, claiming that goal difference should be used to decide on the group winner, as it is "the traditional way of determining a log standing".[32] The South African team had believed they had qualified when the final whistle was blown following their 0–0 draw with Sierra Leone.[33] The SAFA later withdrew its appeal.[34]

Group H[edit]

Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  CIV  RWA  BDI  BEN
 Ivory Coast 6 6 0 0 19 4 +15 18 3–0 2–1 2–1
 Rwanda 6 2 0 4 5 15 −10 6 0–5 3–1 0–3
 Burundi 6 1 2 3 7 9 −2 5[a] 0–1 3–1 1–1
 Benin 6 1 2 3 8 11 −3 5[a] 2–6 0–1 1–1
Source: [citation needed]
Notes:
  1. ^ a b Burundi and Benin could not be separated by head-to-head record, so instead ranking was based on overall goal difference.
  • Note: The ranking of Burundi and Benin by their head-to-head records is shown below. As they could not be separated on these criteria, ranking was based on overall goal difference.
head-to-head
Team Pld W D L GF GA GD AG Pts
 Burundi 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 2
 Benin 2 0 2 0 2 2 0 1 2
Source: [citation needed]
Ivory Coast 3–0 Rwanda
Y. Touré 11'
Kalou 19'
Eboué