Bafana Bafana’s path to AFCON 2023 made easier after latest development!

Bafana Bafana have been handed a huge boost by CAF who have announced that the ban of Zimbabwe and Kenya has not been lifted.

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Zimbabwe and Kenya were both suspended by FIFA due to political interference earlier this year, and but Zimbabwe was provisionally drawn alongside Bafana Bafana for the AFCON 2023 qualifiers.

Zimbabwe and Kenya out

A full statement on the CAF website on the issue read as follows: 

“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 (AFCON) Cote d’Ivoire 2023 qualifiers. 

The qualifiers will kick-off on the first day of June 2022. 

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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. As a result: 

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.

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–       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 Bafana’s path much easier now?

This should then, make life much easier for Bafana Bafana who know now that their only group opponents are Morocco and Liberia. Hugo Broos’ men should be feel that they can get at least four points against Liberia and and fancy Morocco to take all six off them and that alone should be enough for them to qualify without even factoring what their results will be against South Africa.