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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]
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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 | Co-hosts | 29 July 2007 | 4 (1994, 1996, 2000, 2010) |
 Equatorial Guinea | 0 (debut) | ||
 Botswana | Group K Winner | 26 March 2011 | 0 (debut) |
 Ivory Coast | Group H Winner | 5 June 2011 | 18 (1965, 1968, 1970, 1974, 1980, 19842, 1986, 1988, 1990, 19921, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010) |
 Burkina Faso | Group F Winner | 3 September 2011 | 7 (1978, 1996, 19982, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2010) |
 Senegal | Group E Winner | 3 September 2011 | 11 (1965, 1968, 1986, 1990, 19922, 1994, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008) |
 Ghana | Group I Winner | 8 October 2011 | 17 (196312, 19651, 1968, 1970, 197812, 1980, 19821, 1984, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 20002, 2002, 2006, 20082, 2010) |
 Guinea | Group B Winner | 8 October 2011 | 10 (1970, 1974, 1976, 1980, 1984, 1994, 1998, 2006, 2004, 2008) |
 Zambia | Group C Winner | 8 October 2011 | 14 (1974, 1978, 1982, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2006, 2008, 2010) |
 Libya | Top Two Runner-up | 8 October 2011 | 2 (19822, 2006) |
 Angola | Group J Winner | 8 October 2011 | 5 (1996, 1998, 2006, 2008, 20102) |
 Tunisia | Group K Runner-up | 8 October 2011 | 14 (1962, 1963, 19652, 1978, 1982, 19942, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 200412, 2006, 2008, 2010) |
 Mali | Group A Winner | 8 October 2011 | 6 (1972, 1994, 20022, 2004, 2008, 2010) |
 Niger | Group G Winner | 8 October 2011 | 0 (debut) |
 Morocco | Group D Winner | 9 October 2011 | 13 (1972, 19761, 1978, 1980, 1986, 19882, 1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008) |
 Sudan | Top Two Runner-up | 9 October 2011 | 7 (19572, 1959, 1963, 197012, 1972, 1976, 2008) |
- 1 Bold indicates champion for that year
- 2 Italic indicates host
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The Confederation of African Football (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]
- Notes
- Togo was initially banned from competing in the tournament and was thus not involved in the draw, but they were later reinstated and added to Group K (see below).
- Did not enter:
Djibouti, 
Eritrea, 
Lesotho, 
São Tomé and Príncipe, 
Seychelles, 
Somalia.
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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]
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The order of tie-breakers used when two or more team have the equal number of points is:[7] (article 14)
- Number of points obtained in games between the teams concerned;
- Goal difference in games between the teams concerned;
- Goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
- Away goals scored in games between the teams concerned;
- Goal difference in all games;
- Goals scored in all games;
- Drawing of lots.
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| Legend |
|---|
| Group winners, Group K runner-up, and top two runners-up in all other groups qualify for the finals |
Group A
| 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 |
| Cape Verde | 1–0 | Mali |
|---|---|---|
Varela  44' |
Report |
Zimbabwe  | 0–0 | Cape Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Cape Verde | 4–2 |  Liberia |
|---|---|---|
| Héldon Ramos 14', 45+1' Babanco 25'Fortes 53' |
Report | Wleh 39' Këïta 84' |
Referee: Lemghaifry Ould Ali (Mauritania)
Referee: Bakary Gassama (Gambia)
| Liberia | 1–0 | Cape Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Doe 44' |
Report |
| Mali | 3–0 | Cape Verde |
|---|---|---|
| Diabaté 27', 29' M. Traoré 51' |
Report |
Referee: Badara Diatta (Senegal)
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Algeria)
Group B
Nigeria  | 2–0 |  Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Martins 19' Eneramo 45+1' |
Report |
| Madagascar | 0–1 |  Ethiopia |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Lemessa 62' |
| Madagascar | 1–1 | Guinea |
|---|---|---|
| Rajoarimanana 17' |
Report | Bah 80' |
Referee: Selim Jedidi (Tunisia)
| Madagascar | 0–2 | Nigeria |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Yobo 68' Obinna 75' |
Referee: Sylvester Kirwa (Kenya)
Referee: Kacem Bennaceur (Tunisia)
| Ethiopia | 4–2 | Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Oukri 31' Girma 56'Lemessa 59'Bekele 73' |
Report | Razafimandimby 3' Rakotonomenjanahary 57' |
Group C
Mozambique  | 0–0 |  Libya |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
Comoros  | 0–1 | Mozambique |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Josemar 90+1' |
| Mozambique | 0–2 | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Chamanga 18' Mayuka 90' |
| Libya | 3–0 | Comoros |
|---|---|---|
| El Khatroushi 20' Abdelkader 68'Bindi 81' |
Report |
| Zambia | 3–0 | Mozambique |
|---|---|---|
| C. Katongo 47', 67' Mbesuma 68' |
Report |
| Libya | 1–0 | Mozambique |
|---|---|---|
| Allafi 31' |
Report |
Referee: Fahim Omar (Egypt)
| Comoros | 1–2 | Zambia |
|---|---|---|
| Y. M'Changama 32' |
Report | C. Katongo 23' Mayuka 87' |
- Notes
Group D
- 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.
| 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 |
Tanzania  | 0–1 | Morocco |
|---|---|---|
| Report | El Hamdaoui 43' |
| Central African Republic | 2–0 | Algeria |
|---|---|---|
| Dopékoulouyen 81' Momi 85' |
Report |
Referee: Seechurn Rajindraparsad (Mauritius)
Referee: Noumandiez Doué (Ivory Coast)
| Central African Republic | 2–1 | Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Momi 38' Dopékoulouyen 88' |
Report | Nditi 76' |
Referee: Joseph Lamptey (Ghana)
Referee: Ali Lenghaifry (Mauritania)
Referee: Selim Jedidi (Tunisia)
| Algeria | 2–0 | Central African Republic |
|---|---|---|
| Yebda 1' Kadir 28' |
Report |
Group E
Referee: Yosr Saadalah (Tunisia)
Referee: Wokoma Solomon (Nigeria)
Referee: Aboubacar Bangoura (Guinea)
DR Congo  | 2–3 |  Cameroon |
|---|---|---|
| Kaluyituka 11' Kanda 40' |
Report | Eto'o 18' Mbuta 75' Choupo-Moting 79' |
Group F
- Mauritania withdrew from 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification before any match was played.[21]
Referee: Adam Cordier (Chad)
Namibia  | 1–4 | Burkina Faso |
|---|---|---|
| Shipahu 85' |
Report | A. R. Traoré 12' Bancé 57' (pen.) A. Traoré 80' (pen.) Pitroipa 90' |
Gambia  | 1–1 | Burkina Faso |
|---|---|---|
| Danso 59' |
Report | Dagano 90' |
- 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
| 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 |
| South Africa | 2–0 | Niger |
|---|---|---|
| Mphela 12' Parker 45+3' |
Report |
Egypt  | 1–1 | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Fathalla 61' |
Report | Mustapha Bangura 57' |
| South Africa | 1–0 | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Mphela 90+3' |
Report |
| Niger | 3–1 | Sierra Leone |
|---|---|---|
| Issoufou 64' Sidibé 79'Daouda 89' |
Report | Mohamed Bangura 23' |
| Sierra Leone | 1–0 | Niger |
|---|---|---|
| T. Bangura 50' |
Report |
| Egypt | 0–0 | South Africa |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Sierra Leone | 2–1 | Egypt |
|---|---|---|
| Mohamed Elneny 14' (o.g.) Mohamed Bangura 89' (pen.) |
Report | Mohsen 45+1' |
Referee: Djamel Haimoudi (Algeria)
- 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
- 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.
Referee: Eddy Maillet (Seychelles)[35]
Referee: Daniel Bennett (South Africa)[35]
Burundi  | 0–1 | Ivory Coast |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Romaric 33' |
| Ivory Coast | 2–1 |  Benin |
|---|---|---|
| Drogba 45', 76' |
Report | Tchomogo 14' |
Referee: Gehad Gresha (Egypt)
Referee: Khalid Abdel Rahman (Sudan)
| Ivory Coast | 2–1 | Burundi |
|---|---|---|
| K. Touré 77' Y. Touré 90' |
Report | Ndabashinze 85' |
- Notes
- Note 3: Originally to be played at Abidjan, Ivory Coast but moved to neutral venue due to the political situation in Côte d'Ivoire.[15]
Group I
| Sudan | 2–0 |  Congo |
|---|---|---|
| Mudather Karika 9' Muhannad El Tahir 90' (pen.) |
Report |
| Sudan | 3–0 |  Swaziland |
|---|---|---|
| Bisha 2', 63' Muhannad El Tahir 90' |
Report |
| Ghana | 2–0 | Swaziland |
|---|---|---|
| Gyan 9' Agyemang-Badu 80' |
Report |
Referee: Rajindraparsad Seechurn (Mauritius)
| Sudan | 0–2 | Ghana |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Gyan 10' John Mensah 22' |
Group J
Guinea-Bissau  | 1–0 |  Kenya |
|---|---|---|
| Dionísio 76' |
Report |
| Angola | 1–0 | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Gilberto 22' (pen.) |
Report |
| Guinea-Bissau | 0–1 |  Uganda |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Obua 22' |
| Uganda | 2–0 | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Walusimbi 43' Massa 62' |
Report |
| Kenya | 2–1 | Guinea-Bissau |
|---|---|---|
| Baraza 58' Oliech 90' |
Report | De Carvalho 86' |
Referee: Elahrach Bouchaib (Morocco)
| Guinea-Bissau | 0–2 | Angola |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Manucho 8' Mateus 70' |
Group K
| Tunisia | 0–1 | Botswana |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Ramatlhakwane 31' |
Togo  | 1–1 |  Malawi |
|---|---|---|
| Aloenouvo 85' |
Report | Mwakasungula 17' |
Malawi  | 1–1 | Botswana |
|---|---|---|
| Banda 74' |
Report | Ramatlhakwane 63' |
| Botswana | 1–0 | Tunisia |
|---|---|---|
| Ramatlhakwane 45' |
Report |
Referee: Wellington Kaoma (Zambia)
Referee: Koman Coulibaly (Mali)
Chad  | 0–1 | Botswana |
|---|---|---|
| Report | Ramatlhkwane 50' |
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Noumandiez Doué (Ivory Coast)
Ranking of group runners-up
The two best runners-up from Groups A–J qualify for the 2012 ACN. After the withdrawal of Mauritania from Group F, the following rule applies:[21]
In case a group of four is reduced to three teams during the competition, the two best runners up of the groups of four were determined by taking into account their results with the first and third of their respective groups without taking into account their results against the last team of their groups in order to allow the second of the group reduced to three teams to remain in the race for the two best second.
The two best runners-up are determined by the following parameters in this order:[44]
- Highest number of points
- Goal difference
- Highest number of goals scored
- Match replay in case of parity
| Pos | Grp | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | Libya |
4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | +2 | 8 |
| 2 | I | Sudan |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 7 |
| 3 | A | Cape Verde |
4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | −1 | 7 |
| 4 | B | Nigeria |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 5 |
| 5 | G | South Africa |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| 6 | J | Uganda |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | +1 | 5 |
| 7 | E | Cameroon |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
| 8 | D | Central African Republic |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| 9 | F | Gambia |
4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | 4 |
| 10 | H |  Rwanda |
4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 12 | −8 | 3 |
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There were 327 goals scored in 130 games for an average of 2.52 goals per game.
- 6 goals
- 5 goals
- 4 goals
- 3 goals
- 2 goals
Hassan Yebda
Séïdath Tchomogo
Didier Kavumbagu- Faty Papy
Moumouni Dagano
Matthew Mbuta
Héldon
Charlie Dopékoulouyen- Hilaire Momi
Marius Mbaiam- Ezechiel N'Douassel
Francky Sembolo
Salomon Kalou- Didier Ya Konan
- Yaya Touré
Fikru Teferra- Oumed Oukri
- Saladin Said
Momodou Ceesay
Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu- Asamoah Gyan
Bobo Baldé- Ismaël Bangoura
- Oumar Kalabane
Patrick Wleh
Robert Ng'ambi
Jonathan Bru
Mahamane Traoré
Marouane Chamakh
Tangeni Shipahu
Moussa Maâzou
Victor Obinna- Peter Utaka
- Joseph Yobo
Mohamed Bangura
Katlego Mphela
Mohamed Bashir- Muhamed Tahir
Shaban Nditi- Mbwana Samata
Backer Aloenouvo- Mani Sapol
Fahid Ben Khalfallah
David Obua
James Chamanga
- 1 goal
- Hamer Bouazza
- Adlène Guedioura
- Foued Kadir
Flávio- Gilberto
- Mateus Galiano
- Guy Akpagba
- Razak Omotoyossi
- Mickaël Poté
Joel Mogorosi- Phenyo Mongala
- Wilfried Balima
- Aristide Bancé
- Charles Kaboré
- Jonathan Pitroipa
- Abdou Razack Traoré
- Dugary Ndabashinze
- Selemani Ndikumana
- Saidi Ntibazonkiza
- Léonard Kweuke
- Landry N'Guémo
- Elvis Macedo Babanco
- Odaïr Fortes
- Ryan Mendes da Graça
- Valdo
- Fernando Varela
- Vianney Mabidé
- Karl Max Barthélémy
- Léger Djimrangar
- Mahamat Labbo
Youssouf M'Changama- Abdoulaide Mzé Mbaba
- Barel Mouko
- Lorry Nkolo
- Fabrice Ondama
Dioko Kaluyituka- Déo Kanda
- Lomana LuaLua
- Zola Matumona
- Emmanuel Eboué
- Romaric
- Kolo Touré
Mahmoud Fathalla- Mohamed Salah
- Shimelis Bekele
- Adane Girma
- Mamadou Danso
- Ousman Jallow
- Omar Jawo
- Sanna Nyassi
- Dominic Adiyiah
- André Ayew
- John Mensah
- Sulley Muntari
- Hans Sarpei
- Isaac Vorsah
- Mamadou Bah
- Karamoko Cissé
- Kévin Constant
- Sadio Diallo
- Ibrahima Traoré
- Ibrahim Yattara
- Kamil Zayatte
Basile de Carvalho- Dionísio
Mike Baraza- McDonald Mariga
- Jamal Mohamed
- Dennis Oliech
- Francis Doe
- Alsény Këïta
- Sekou Oliseh
- Theo Lewis Weeks
- Dioh Williams
Ahmed Abdelkader- Rabee Allafi
- Djamal Bindi
- Ihaab Boussefi
- Walid Mhadeb El Khatroushi
- Ahmed Saad Osman
Faed Arsène- Yvan Rajoarimanana
- Baggio Rakotonomenjanahary
- Jean José Razafimandimby
- Davi Banda
- Moses Chavula
- Hellings Mwakasungula
- Harry Nyirenda
- Jimmy Zakazaka
- Cédric Kanté
- Abdou Traoré
- Oussama Assaidi
- Medhi Benatia
- Mbark Boussoufa
- Mounir El Hamdaoui
- Youssouf Hadji
- Adel Taarabt
Dário- Domingues
- Josemar
- Maninho
- Wilko Risser
- Kamilou Daouda
- Alhassane Issoufou
- Dankwa Koffi
- Issa Modibo Sidibé
- Michael Eneramo
- Obafemi Martins
- Kalu Uche
Labama Bokota- Eric Gasana
- Jean-Claude Iranzi
- Mere Kagere
- Elias Uzamukunda
Demba Ba- Dame N'Doye
- Mustapha Bangura
- Teteh Bangura
- Sheriff Suma
- Andile Jali
- Bernard Parker
- Bakri Al-Madina
- Mudather El Tahir
- Galag
- Ala'a Eldin Yousif
Darren Christie- Manqoba Kunene
- Abdi Kassim
- Jerson Tegete
- Kondo Arimiyaou
- Serge Gakpé
- Aymen Abdennour
- Amine Chermiti
- Oussama Darragi
- Walid Hichri
- Saber Khalifa
- Khaled Korbi
- Geofrey Massa
- Andrew Mwesigwa
- Geoffrey Sserunkuma
- Godfrey Walusimbi
- Rainford Kalaba
- Collins Mbesuma
- Fwayo Tembo
Khama Billiat- Ovidy Karuru
- Willard Katsande
- 1 own goal
- Eric Nkulukuta (playing against Cameroon)
- Ben Teekloh (playing against Mali)
- Joye Estazie (playing against Senegal)
- Richard Gariseb (playing against Burkina Faso)
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