Confederation of African Football (CAF) have finally confirmed that Kenya and Zimbabwe will not take part in the upcoming 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers due to government interference.The duo, currently serving a FIFA suspension had until a fortnight to matchday one to have their suspensions lifted by the world football governing body but they failed to comply and CAF has now cracked the whip throwing the duo out.Kenya’s woes started in November 2021 when Sports CS Amina Mohammed disbanded Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and installed a Caretaker Committee which has since metamorphosed to a Transition Committee after their six-month term elapsed.With the country not bowing to FIFA’s demands which included disbandment of the Caretaker Committee, opening the Kasarani Goal Project and restoring interim president Doris Petra and General Secretary Barry Otieno, CAF has opted to throw Kenya alongside Zimbabwe who are equally facing the same challenges out.”As a consequence of having failed to have their suspensions by FIFA set aside, CAF has confirmed that both Kenya and Zimbabwe will not participate in the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 qualifiers,” read CAF statement in part.It’s officialKenya and Zimbabwe thrown out of the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers that begin next week.#AFCON2023 pic.twitter.com/kWFwKIYOKa— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) May 24, 2022 “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”.This means Group C where Kenya had been pooled alongside Cameroon, Namibia and Burundi will have three teams. The same will apply to group K where Zimbabwe was placed.Because of the suspension, the following will apply:”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”.Confirmed: Kenya set to be kicked out of AFCON qualifiers
