Kenya and Zimbabwe have been ruled out from the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers having ‘failed to have their suspensions by FIFA set aside’ the Confederation of African Football has confirmed.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that FIFA had on February 24 suspended both federations over what they termed ‘government interference.’
‘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 Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 qualifiers,’ read the CAF statement.
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“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 had been drawn in Group C along with Burundi, Cameroon and Namibia whilst Zimbabwe were in Group K with Liberia, Morocco and South Africa.
Winners and runners-up in the 12 groups qualify for the finals at six venues in the Ivory Coast on dates to be announced during June and July next year.
Champions Senegal begins their Africa Cup of Nations title defence at home to Benin.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has been ordered to pay former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr $378,000 for sacking him before the end of his contract.
Africa Daily News, New York recalls that Rohr was sacked in December just four weeks to the commencement of the delayed Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and was replaced by Austin Eguavoen.
Although the NFF had agreed to pay the Franco-German tactician’s salary until the end of his contract, Rohr dragged the NFF to football’s world governing body FIFA to demand an additional sum for breach of contract without justifications.
