In all, 35 teams have entered the fray to grab the guaranteed three and possibly four slots reserved for the continent for the Olympics.
The 22 lowest-ranked teams, based on the qualifiers and final round of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, were drawn to play in a home-and-away format on February 23 and March 9, 2011, with the winners making it to round two.
The 11 winners from the first round will join the 13 highest-ranked teams in the second round, where they will again play in a home-and-away format on June 19 and 23, 2011.
The 12 winners will then be divided into three groups of four teams each in the third round. Again, a home-and-away format from September 21, 2011 to March 14, 2012, will determine the winners who will represent the continent in the Olympics.
Three second-placed teams from the third round will play in a play-off at a centralised venue from March 25 to 29, 2012, and the winners of this group will meet the representatives of CAF for a berth in the Olympics. The group stage will be played between March 20 to 31, 2011 and the hosts will be announced later.
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