Zim Exit Boost For Bafana

BAFANA Bafana’s qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations received a huge boost after their Group K opponents Zimbabwe were expelled from the competition.

Caf said due to Zimbabwe and Kenya failing to get their Fifa suspensions lifted, they will “not participate in the Africa Cup of Nations Ivory Coast 2023 qualifiers”.

The two countries were suspended in relation to alleged government interference in the sport.

With two teams qualifying from each group, and Morocco and South Africa the favourites in Group K, and Liberia theoretically are the whipping boys, that leaves a path clear for Bafana to reach Ivory Coast 2023, barring a not uncharacteristic choke from the national team.

Caf said: “Caf had included them (Kenya and Zimbabwe) in the official draw in April on condition that the suspension 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.”

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) 

Caf said the suspensions mean the two associations, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and 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.

Bafana’s qualification campaign starts with their match against Morocco in Rabat on June 9.

South Africa are placed 69th in the latest Fifa rankings, Morocco are 24th and Liberia are 149th.

Kenya’s exit leaves Cameroon, Burundi and Namibia to contest Group C. —TimesLive

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