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)

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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)

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)

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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)

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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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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)

Algeria - On Sept. 10, Algeria’s El-Arabi Soudani scored the only goal of his team’s match against Mali. By that point, Algeria had already won enough points throughout the second round to place them in the top of their group, so their advancement in the final qualifying round was guaranteed. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

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Algeria - On Sept. 10, Algeria’s El-Arabi Soudani scored the only goal of his team’s match against Mali. By that point, Algeria had already won enough points throughout the second round to place them in the top of their group, so their advancement in the final qualifying round was guaranteed. (Photo: REUTERS/Mike Hutchings)

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Nigeria - Nigeria earned a spot in the playoffs on Sept. 7 when the Super Eagles cinched a 2-0 victory over Malawi. Striker Emmanuel Emenika and attacker Victor Moses landed the winning shots. (Photo: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Nigeria - Nigeria earned a spot in the playoffs on Sept. 7 when the Super Eagles cinched a 2-0 victory over Malawi. Striker Emmanuel Emenika and attacker Victor Moses landed the winning shots. (Photo: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: PIUS UTOMI EKPEI/AFP/Getty Images

Cape Verde - Cape Verde made an exceptional run at the 2013 African Cup, when they shocked many by advancing all the way to the quarter-finals. The small nation continued its impressive streak when they beat Tunisia on Sept. 7, bringing the Blue Sharks one step closer to its first World Cup appearance. (Photo: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko)

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Cape Verde - Cape Verde made an exceptional run at the 2013 African Cup, when they shocked many by advancing all the way to the quarter-finals. The small nation continued its impressive streak when they beat Tunisia on Sept. 7, bringing the Blue Sharks one step closer to its first World Cup appearance. (Photo: REUTERS/Siphiwe Sibeko)

Egypt - Led by former U.S. coach Bob Bradley, Egypt defeated Guinea in a 4-2 win on Sept. 10, securing their position in the playoffs. As the only team out of 42 to maintain a 100 percent record throughout the first two rounds, the Pharaohs have also provided a silver lining to the recent violent unrest and political turmoil facing the North African nation.(Photo: REUTERS/Louafi Larbi)

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Egypt - Led by former U.S. coach Bob Bradley, Egypt defeated Guinea in a 4-2 win on Sept. 10, securing their position in the playoffs. As the only team out of 42 to maintain a 100 percent record throughout the first two rounds, the Pharaohs have also provided a silver lining to the recent violent unrest and political turmoil facing the North African nation.(Photo: REUTERS/Louafi Larbi)

Senegal - The 2002 World Cup quarterfinalists advanced to the playoff qualifiers on Sept. 7 when they beat Uganda 1-0. Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg player Sadio Mane gave the Senegal Lion’s their winning goal in the 84th minute of the close game.(Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

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Senegal - The 2002 World Cup quarterfinalists advanced to the playoff qualifiers on Sept. 7 when they beat Uganda 1-0. Austria’s Red Bull Salzburg player Sadio Mane gave the Senegal Lion’s their winning goal in the 84th minute of the close game.(Photo: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Burkina Faso - On Sept. 7, Burkina Faso progressed to the next round of qualifications after Prejudice Nakoulma scored the first-and-only goal of their match against Gabon. The 2013 African World Cup champions hope to make their first ever World Cup appearance this year. (Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images)

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Burkina Faso - On Sept. 7, Burkina Faso progressed to the next round of qualifications after Prejudice Nakoulma scored the first-and-only goal of their match against Gabon. The 2013 African World Cup champions hope to make their first ever World Cup appearance this year. (Photo: Ian Walton/Getty Images)

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Cameroon - Defender Aurelien Chedjou’s goal gave the West African nation its only goal in the 1-0 match against Libya on Sept. 8. Cameroon holds the boastful title of being Africa’s first World Cup quarterfinalist, but their chances in Brazil remain uncertain due to the team’s all-time leading scorer and captain Samuel Eto’o retiring from international football. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

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Cameroon - Defender Aurelien Chedjou’s goal gave the West African nation its only goal in the 1-0 match against Libya on Sept. 8. Cameroon holds the boastful title of being Africa’s first World Cup quarterfinalist, but their chances in Brazil remain uncertain due to the team’s all-time leading scorer and captain Samuel Eto’o retiring from international football. (Photo: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ethiopia - On Sept. 7, Ethiopia qualified over 2010 World Cup host South Africa when they beat Central Republic of Africa 2-1. The East African surprised many when they qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after a 31-year absence, so the team is aiming to shock again by making their first World Cup appearance ever.(Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)

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Ethiopia - On Sept. 7, Ethiopia qualified over 2010 World Cup host South Africa when they beat Central Republic of Africa 2-1. The East African surprised many when they qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations after a 31-year absence, so the team is aiming to shock again by making their first World Cup appearance ever.(Photo: REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya)

Down and Out - What’s a tournament without an upset or two? While South Africa avoided much expectations — Bafana Bafana has not qualified for a major competition that it has not hosted since 2008 — former African champion Tunisia and No. 2-ranked Mali failed to make the final 10. So, who will head to Brazil next year? The battle for one of five World Cup spots begins on Oct. 11, 2013.(Photos from left: Manus van Dyk/Gallo Images/Getty Images, Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images, Richard Huggard / Gallo Images/Getty Images)

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Down and Out - What’s a tournament without an upset or two? While South Africa avoided much expectations — Bafana Bafana has not qualified for a major competition that it has not hosted since 2008 — former African champion Tunisia and No. 2-ranked Mali failed to make the final 10. So, who will head to Brazil next year? The battle for one of five World Cup spots begins on Oct. 11, 2013.(Photos from left: Manus van Dyk/Gallo Images/Getty Images, Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images, Richard Huggard / Gallo Images/Getty Images)