However, less than two months prior to the start of the tournament, Egyptian authorities decided against hosting the competition because of security concerns.

[4] The Confederation of African Football chose to create a tournament and qualifying phase to decide which associations could represent Africa at the 2012 Olympic Games.

Qualified teams: The draw for the tournament was held on 24 September 2011 during the CAF Executive Committee meeting in Cairo, Egypt.

[6] Néant Alioum Bakary Gassama Sylvester Kirwa Hamada Nampiandraza Ali Lemghaifry Bouchaïb El Ahrach Slim Jedidi Janny Sikazwe Reserve Joseph Lamptey Aboubacar Mario Bangoura Jean-Claude Birumushahu Moussa Yanoussa Richard Bouende-Malonga Angesom Ogbamariam Aden Marwa Range Moffat Champiti Redouane Achik Felicien Kabanda Jason Damoo Anouar Hmila Reserve Yacin Hassan Egueh All times given as local time (UTC) If two or more teams tied in their points, the following tie-breaker is used:[7]

In effect this means that African nations can call on European-based players for the Olympic tournament who were not able to participate in qualifying due to club commitments.