AFCON
CAF throw Zimbabwe, Kenya out of AFCON 2023 qualifiers
Zimbabwe have joined Kenya in forfeiting their matches in the qualifying series of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations due to begin in few days’ time.
According to a press statement by the Confederation of African Football, this is sequel to the two countries’ football associations failing to have their suspensions by FIFA set aside.
CAF has confirmed that both Kenya and Zimbabwe will not participate in the Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 qualifiers.
The qualifiers will kick-off on the first day of June 2022.
CAF had included them in the official draw earlier in April 2022 on condition that the suspension must be lifted two weeks before their first match day.
Kenya and Zimbabwe, suspended for political interference, have not yet met the criteria required by the FIFA Congress as a prerequisite for lifting their suspension. As a result of the suspension, the two associations; Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the Zimbabwe Football Association (ZIFA) will be considered losers and eliminated from the competition.
Groups C and K will be composed only of three teams and the order of the matches will be maintained in accordance with the match schedule that has been communicated to the teams after the draw.
The first and runner-up teams of those groups will qualify to the final tournament