Kenya are set to be kicked out of the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers after they failed to meet CAF’s demand of having their suspension lifted by world football governing body, FIFA.CAF had instructed Kenya to work towards ensuring that the indefinite suspension that was slapped on the country in February by FIFA was lifted a fortnight to match day one. The suspension came as a result of Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed’s decision to dissolve FKF and appoint a Caretaker Committee to run football affairs in the country. The committee’s mandate has since expired giving birth to the transition committee which will run football affairs in the country for five weeks.Among the demands by FIFA is the reinstatement of stand-in president, Doris Petra and General Secretary Barry Otieno, removal of the committee and the reopening of the FKF offices at Kasarani. None of these conditions have been met.CAF has now moved to expel Kenya from the competition meaning that Group C will remain with two teams. Stars had been pooled against Cameroon, Namibia and Burundi in Group C and the three teams will now battle it out for the two AFCON slots. The 2023 edition will be staged in Ivory Coast.Kenya set to be kicked of 2023 African Cup of Nations.Group C will be left with Cameroon, Namibia and Burundi.#afcon2023q pic.twitter.com/19Ocu0nUQi— Ole Teya (@Kevin_teya) May 19, 2022 “Kenya are out of AFCON; the official communication will be out in due course. The directive was for them to work on having the suspension lifted two weeks before the first game of the qualifiers. There is also an undertaking that FA’s sign heading into CAF or FIFA assignments. Kenya has not done that and there is no way they were going to play international matches without the commitment, “a source from the continental football body told Mozzart Sport.Stars were set to open the qualifying campaign with an away match against Cameroon in Yaounde on 4th June. Two home matches against Namibia and Burundi would have followed before a trip to Burundi. The second last game would have been played in Nairobi against Cameroon before ending the qualifying journey in Windhoek Namibia.Blow as FIFA ratifies Kenya suspensionThis is a second major tournament that Kenya will be sitting out due to the suspension. The other is the African Women Cup of Nations that will be played in Morocco in July. Kenya missed out after Uganda were handed a bye to biannual tournament. Kenya will also miss the CECAFA Women Championship that start on 1st June in Uganda and subsequent CECAFA-organized competitions.
