Road to Brazil: 10 African Teams Compete for World Cup Glory

Learn which nations advanced to the final qualifying round.

Keep Your Eyes on These Soccer Stars - The 2014 FIFA World Cup is upon us, with powerhouse host Brazil taking on Croatia today (June 12) to set off the tournament. As the fifth largest country in the world, Brazil has been preparing for this tournament for years, reportedly spending $11 billion — more than double of what South Africa spent in 2010 and fives times what Germany doled out in 2006. As of late May, several of the 12 stadiums being built were not finished, stirring huge concern considering more than 3.5 million soccer fans are expected in Rio de Janeiro. Still, the global fever for the 2014 World Cup is contagious. Here, BET.com points out 14 players you should pay attention to during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. (Photo: FIFA)
What You Need to Know - Since July 2011, 52 teams from the Confederation of African Football have been battling for five of the 31 spots in the final tournament in Brazil. After a dynamic second round, comprised of matches played from June 2012 to Sept. 2013, 10 teams advanced to the playoffs, which will occur in Oct. and Nov. 2013. The draw on Sept. 16 will determine who plays whom and designate the five highest-raking teams among the bunch. (Photo: Steve Haag/Getty Images)
Ivory Coast - A former star forward for the London-based Chelsea football club, 35-year-old Ivory Coast player Didier Drogba proved that he has only gotten better with age. The veteran striker maintained his cool in the crucial Sept. 7 game against Morocco, scoring last minute from the penalty spot. If the Elephants make it to the World Cup, it will probably be Drogba’s last international match.(Photo: Jeff Zelevansky/Getty Images)Ghana - Ghana’s Black Stars confirmed its place in the next round of the African World Cup qualifiers on Sept. 6, after goals made by Spartak Moscow forward Abdul Majeed Waris and Kwadwo Asamoah gave the team a 2-1 victory over Zambia. The Black Stars has won the Africa Cup of Nations four times and, in 1992, became the first African football team to win a medal at the Olympics finishing third. (Photo: Adam Pretty/Getty Images)

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The Final 10 - Next month, 10 of Africa’s best football teams will kick off the third-and-final round of the African World Cup qualifying matches. The top five teams that emerge victorious will compete in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil next June. Keep reading to learn more about the hopefuls, the defeated and the upcoming final matches as the race to Brazil heats up. — Patrice Peck(Photo: FIFA)

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