CAF set Afcon2023 draw date as they approve WC2026 qualifiers calender

22May 2023
Nassir Nchimbi
Sport
The Guardian
CAF set Afcon2023 draw date as they approve WC2026 qualifiers calender

AFRICA Cup of Nations, Côte d'Ivoire 2023 draw date will be conducted on October 12, three months before the continent's flagship football event is held in the West African country, Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed.

The decision to grant Ivory Coast the tournament’s hosting rights comes after Morocco withdrew its bid to host the event in support of the West African country’s candidacy.

The date was decided during the latest CAF Executive Committee meeting in Algiers.

Senegal, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, South Africa, Algeria and Morocco are the teams that have already qualified, joining the host, Ivory Coast.

The remaining group matches are set to be played during the June and September FIFA international breaks.

The tournament is set to kick off on January 13, next year and will culminate on February 11 at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Abidjan.

It will be the second time that the Ivorians are hosting the tournament, having staged the 1984 edition when Cameroon were crowned champions.

Meanwhile, the CAF Executive Committee noted its satisfaction with the progress and the level of preparedness by the host nation, seven months before the tournament starts.

CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe expressed his gratitude to the President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Ouattara, and the Prime Minister, Patrick Achi, for their cooperation and commitment to ensuring the successful hosting of the tournament.

Also, The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that its Executive Committee (EXCO) has approved the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers schedule.

The Executive Committee also approved the format and dates for the continent’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Aligning with FIFA’s expanded World Cup format, the qualifiers will involve all 54 CAF member associations divided into nine groups.

The winners of each group will automatically qualify for the global tournament. Meanwhile, the four best runners-up from the groups will participate in a CAF Play-Off tournament, with the winner advancing to the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

The official draw for the World Cup’s African Qualifiers is scheduled for July 12, 2023, in Cotonou, Benin.

Matchdays 1 and 2 of the World Cup qualifiers will take place between November 13 and 21, 2023, followed by matchdays 3 and 4 between June 3 and 11, 2024.

Meanwhile, matchdays 5 and 6 are scheduled between March 17 and 25, 2025, followed by matchdays 7 and 8 later in the same year between October 6 and 14.

Matchdays 9 and 10 are scheduled between October 10 and 18, 2025, while the CAF Play-Off Tournament will take place between November 10 and 18, 2023.

Meanwhile, the FIFA Play-Off Tournament is set to take place in March 2026.

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