Kenya and Zimbabwe are taking part in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers draw in Johannesburg on Tuesday despite a FIFA ban due to government interference.
“We have included both countries in the hope of lifting the ban no later than two weeks before the first round in June,” a CAF spokesperson told AFP.
A government-funded apex sports body in Zimbabwe has sparked an outcry from FIFA with the sacking of leaders of the National Football Association led by Felton Kamambo over issues including lack of accountability for public funds.
Kenyan sports ministry officials have dissolved the National Football Association after its chairman, Nick Mwendwa, was charged with multiple fraud charges.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set a deadline of mid-May to lift the ban or prevent countries from participating.
If either Kenya or Zimbabwe do not lift the ban, the groups they have been placed in will drop from four nations to three as qualification for the finals continues.
The first two qualifying rounds are scheduled to take place between May 30 and June 14, with two more rounds between September 19 and 27 and the final two rounds next year from March 20-28.
Ivory Coast, which hosted the tournament in 1984 when it featured just eight teams and was won by Cameroon for the first time, is set to host a 24-team event next June and July.
The Ivorians will hope their home advantage will help them achieve a treble after becoming African champions in 1992 in Senegal and again in 2015 in Equatorial Guinea.
Since the Nations Cup went from 16 teams to 24 three years ago, six stadiums are needed, with Ivory Coast opting for Abidjan (two), Bouaké, Korhogo, San Pedro and Yamoussoukro.
During a visit to the West African country this month, CAF President Patrice Motsepe was briefed on the refurbishment and renovations to the stadium.
South Africa have learned that good progress has been made with the exception of Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny, the former main stadium in Ivory Coast but now the second biggest in Abidjan after the new National Stadium.
Rebuilding after scheduled time
Reconstruction work is believed to be only 25% complete at the stadium, which is named after the president who ruled the former French colony for 33 years after gaining independence in 1960.
Retired African star Lucas Radebe, the South African centre-back who led Leeds United when they were the last team in the Premier League, and Ivory Coast striker Salomon Kalou will help in the draw.
They have both won the Nations Cup final – Radebe with Bafana Bafana (the boys) in 1996 and Kalo with the Elephants in 2015.
The ranked draw will create 12 groups of four teams with Ivory Coast participating to train for competitive matches, rather than relying on often meaningless friendlies in preparation for the tournament.
Ivory Coast will qualify wherever they are in the group, with first place among the other three teams securing a place in the final.
Former Ivory Coast and Hertha Berlin striker Salomon Kalou (right) will take part in the draw for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in Johannesburg on April 19, 2022. Ronnie HartmannAFP
The five African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar – Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Cameroon and Ghana – are among the top seeds.
The top 42 African teams automatically entered the latest FIFA rankings, while Gambia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Sao Tome and Principe and South Sudan won the preliminary match and Botswana got a round additional.
The Gambia, who have ravaged Africa this year by reaching the 2021/2022 quarter-finals, nearly lost an injury-time penalty to finish in a draw with Chad.
sowing
Tier 1: Senegal (defender), Morocco, Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon, Algeria, Mali, Ivory Coast (host country), Burkina Faso, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Second level: South Africa, Cape Verde, Guinea, Gabon, Benin, Uganda, Zambia, Congo-Brazzaville, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Kenya, Sierra Leone.
Third level: Namibia, Mauritania, Guinea-Bissau, Niger, Libya, Mozambique, Malawi, Togo, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Angola, Comoros.
Fourth level: Tanzania, Central African Republic, Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Lesotho, Botswana, Liberia, South Sudan, Sao Tome and Principe.
