The first round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF), CAF matches for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification was played from 7 to 17 October 2015.
Format
A total of 26 teams (teams ranked 28–53 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)#Entrants, CAF entrant list) played home-and-away over two-legged tie, two legs. The 13 winners advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round.
Seeding
The draw for the first round was held as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Preliminary Draw on 25 July 2015, starting 18:00 Moscow Standard Time, MSK (UTC+03:00, UTC+3), at the Konstantinovsky Palace in Strelna, Saint Petersburg, Russia.
The seeding was based on the FIFA World Rankings of July 2015 (shown in parentheses).
The 26 teams are seeded into two pots:
*Pot 4 contained the teams ranked 1–13 (i.e., 28–40 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)#Entrants, CAF entrant list).
*Pot 5 contained the teams ranked 14–26 (i.e., 41–53 in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF)#Entrants, CAF entrant list).
Each tie contained a team from Pot 4 and a team from Pot 5, with the team from Pot 4 hosting the second leg.
Note: Bolded teams qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round.
Matches
Niger national football team, Niger won 6–0 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Cameroon national football team, Cameroon.
----
Mauritania national football team, Mauritania won 5–1 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Tunisia national football team, Tunisia.
----
Namibia national football team, Namibia won 3–2 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Guinea national football team, Guinea.
----
Ethiopia national football team, Ethiopia won 3–1 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Congo national football team, Congo.
----
2–2 on aggregate. Chad national football team, Chad won on the away goals rule and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Egypt national football team, Egypt.
----
1–1 on aggregate. Comoros national football team, Comoros won on the away goals rule and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Ghana national football team, Ghana.
----
Swaziland national football team, Swaziland won 8–1 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Nigeria national football team, Nigeria.
----
Botswana national football team, Botswana won 5–1 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Mali national football team, Mali.
----
Burundi national football team, Burundi won 3–0 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against DR Congo national football team, DR Congo.
----
Liberia national football team, Liberia won 4–2 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Ivory Coast national football team, Ivory Coast.
----
Madagascar national football team, Madagascar won 5–2 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Senegal national football team, Senegal.
----
Kenya national football team, Kenya won 5–2 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Cape Verde national football team, Cape Verde.
----
Tanzania national football team, Tanzania won 2–1 on aggregate and advanced to the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Second Round, second round against Algeria national football team, Algeria.
Goalscorers
There were 68 goals scored in 26 matches, for an average of goals per match.
;4 goals
* William Jebor
* Moussa Maâzou
;3 goals
* Fiston Abdul Razak
* Sandile Hlatjwako
;2 goals
* Joel Mogorosi
* Mogakolodi Ngele
* Léger Djimrangar
* Johanna Omolo
* Boubacar Bagili
* Willy Stephanus
* Mahamane Cissé
;1 goal
* Galabgwe Moyana
* Eudes Dagoulou
* Demba Malick
* Mohamed M'Changama
* Mohamed Liban
* Henok Goitom
* Dawit Fekadu
* Ramkel Lok
* Gatoch Panom
* Pa Dibba
* Abdou Jammeh
* Amido Baldé
* Ibraime Cassamá
* Ayub Masika
* Michael Olunga
* Haron Shakava
* Tsepo Seturumane
* Abel Andrianantenaina
* Johann Paul
* Michael Rabeson
* Njiva Rakotoharimalala
* Falimery Ramanamahefa
* John Banda
* Cheikh Moulaye Ahmed
* Ismaël Diakité
* Moussa Samba
* Jonathan Bru
* Andy Sophie
* Hendrik Somaeb
* Luís Leal (footballer, born 1987), Luís Leal
* Alhaji Kamara
* Abdul Sesay
* Dominic Abui Pretino
* Saneliso Dlamini
* Mxolisi Lukhele
* Mthunzi Mkhontfo
* Sabelo Ndzinisa
* Tony Tsabedze
* Mbwana Samatta
* Thomas Ulimwengu
Notes
References
External links
*
Qualifiers – Africa: Round 1 FIFA.com
2018 FIFA World Cup Russia - Qualifiers CAFonline.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:2018 FIFA World Cup qualification - CAF First Round
2018 FIFA World Cup qualification (CAF), 1
2015 in African football, Qual