6 finals berths (one of which goes automatically to hosts South Africa)
3rd stage
The 20 countries will be drawn in five four-team round-robin groups, the winners of which will qualify for the finals.
Group A
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts. | |
| Cameroon | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 2 | 10 |
| Gabon | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 9 |
| Togo | 5 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Morocco | 5 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 |
Fixtures/Results
28-03-09 Togo 1-0 Cameroon
28-03-09 Morocco 1-2 Gabon
06-06-09 Gabon 3-0 Togo
07-06-09 Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
20-06-09 Gabon 0-2 Cameroon
20-06-09 Morocco 0-0 Togo
05-09-09 Gabon 0-2 Cameroon
06-09-09 Togo 1-1 Morocco
09-09-09 Cameroon 2-1 Gabon
10-10-09 Gabon 3-0 Morocco
10-10-09 Cameroon 3-0 Togo
14-11-09 Morocco - Cameroon
14-11-09 Togo - Gabon
Group B
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts. | |
| Tunisia | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 11 |
| Nigeria | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 9 |
| Mozambique | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Kenya | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
Fixtures/Results
28-03-09 Kenya 1-2 Tunisia
29-03-09 Mozambique 0-0 Nigeria
06-06-09 Tunisia 2-0 Mozambique
07-06-09 Nigeria 3-0 Kenya
20-06-09 Kenya 2-1 Mozambique
20-06-09 Tunisia 0-0 Nigeria
06-09-09 Mozambique 1-0 Kenya
06-09-09 Nigeria 2-2 Tunisia
11-10-09 Tunisia 1-0 Kenya
11-10-09 Nigeria 1-0 Mozambique
14-11-09 Kenya - Nigeria
14-11-09 Mozambique - Tunisia
Group C
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts. | |
| Algeria | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 13 |
| Egypt | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 10 |
| Zambia | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Rwanda | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 |
Fixtures/Results
28-03-09 Rwanda 0-0 Algeria
29-03-09 Egypt 1-1 Zambia
06-06-09 Zambia 1-0 Rwanda
07-06-09 Algeria 3-1 Egypt
20-06-09 Zambia 0-2 Algeria
05-07-09 Egypt 3-0 Rwanda
05-09-09 Rwanda 0-1 Egypt
06-09-09 Algeria 1-0 Zambia
10-10-09 Zambia 0-1 Egypt
11-10-09 Algeria 3-1 Rwanda
14-11-09 Egypt - Algeria
14-11-09 Rwanda - Zambia
Group D
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts. | |
| Ghana | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 1 | 12 |
| Mali | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Benin | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 7 |
| Sudan | 5 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
Fixtures/Results
28-03-09 Sudan 1-1 Mali
29-03-09 Ghana 1-0 Benin
07-06-09 Benin 1-0 Sudan
07-06-09 Mali 0-2 Ghana
20-06-09 Sudan 0-2 Ghana
21-06-09 Mali 3-1 Benin
06-09-09 Benin 1-1 Mali
06-09-09 Ghana 2-0 Sudan
11-10-09 Mali 1-0 Sudan
11-10-09 Benin 1-0 Ghana
14-11-09 Ghana - Mali
14-11-09 Sudan - Benin
Group E
| P | W | D | L | F | A | Pts. | |
| Ivory Coast | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 13 |
| Burkina Faso | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 11 | 9 |
| Malawi | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
| Guinea | 5 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 11 | 3 |
Fixtures/Results
28-03-09 Burkina Faso 4-2 Guinea
29-03-09 Ivory Coast 5-0 Malawi
06-06-09 Malawi 0-1 Burkina Faso
07-06-09 Guinea 1-2 Ivory Coast
20-06-09 Burkina Faso 2-4 Ivory Coast
21-06-09 Guinea 2-1 Malawi
05-09-09 Malawi 2-1 Guinea
05-09-09 Ivory Coast 5-0 Burkina Faso
10-10-09 Malawi 1-1 Ivory Coast
11-10-09 Guinea 1-2 Burkina Fasio
14-11-09 Ivory Coast - Guinea
14-11-09 Burkina Faso - Malawi
Preliminary Qualifiers (Stage 1+2)