The draw for the final round of qualifiers for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations will be conducted on July 5 most likely in Johannesburg.
The 30 teams through to the final round of the qualifiers will be ranked based on their performances during the last three Africa Cup of Nations, i.e. the 2008, 2010, and 2012 editions.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will thus match the 15 top teams in Pot 1 against the 15 teams in Pot 2 for a final playoff to be decided on knockout basis between September and October.
Hosts South Africa have automatically qualified for the final tournament, which kicks off on January 19 with the final on February 10.
Among the teams in Pot 1 are Nigeria’s Super Eagles, defending champions Zambia, Ghana, Cameroon, Tunisia, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea.
The top team in Pot 2 are Senegal, while other decent teams would be Uganda and DR Congo.
However, should Egypt turn the tables and reverse a 3-2 home loss at Central African Republic in their second round qualifiers, they will make it to Pot 1, meaning Morocco will drop to Pot 2.
The draw for the final tournament is slated for October 26, also in South Africa.
In the meantime, Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi has disclosed he wishes to play an African team in August prior to the final qualifiers for the 2013 AFCON.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have said they are studying a proposal for the Super Eagles to feature in an invitational tournament in India in August.
But Keshi said he would prefer an African opposition leading up to the continuation of the qualifying series in September.
“I will want to play against another African team in August during the FIFA free window so as to prepare the team for the final round of the qualifiers,” Keshi told MTNFootball.com
The FIFA friendly window is August 15.
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