KENYA, ZIMBABWE EXCLUDED FROM AFRICAN CUP OF NATIONS QUALIFIERS

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Kenya and Zimbabwe have been eliminated from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after failing to have their FIFA suspensions lifted by the deadline this week, according to the continent’s governing body.

Both countries’ football associations have been suspended for “political involvement,” and they were only allowed to compete in the qualifications if FIFA cleared them to do so.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Tuesday that the two associations, Football Kenya Federation and Zimbabwe Football Association, would be declared losers and would be 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.”The top two sides in each pool advance to the finals in Ivory Coast next June and July.Kenya, along with Cameroon, Namibia, and Burundi, were placed in Group C. On June 4, they were supposed to travel to Yaounde for their pool opening.

Morocco, South Africa, and Liberia were in Group K with Zimbabwe.

Morocco, who have already qualified for the World Cup, had two games against Zimbabwe scheduled for September, but will now be free to schedule friendlies against more difficult opponents to help them prepare for Qatar.

Last year, the governments of Kenya and Zimbabwe dissolved their respective associations, which were then suspended by FIFA in February.