The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches which are organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to decide the participating teams of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the 34th edition of the international men’s football championship of Africa, have just been concluded. A total of 24 teams have qualified to play in the final tournament, including Ivory Coast, who qualified automatically as hosts.
The East Africa Region was represented by Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and DR Congo in the qualification stage of the tournament. Kenya and Burundi were in group C together with Cameron and Namibia. After 6 matches, Cameroon qualified as group leaders and Namibia as group’s runners up, eliminating Burundi and Kenya who finished second last and last respectively.
Tanzania and Uganda were in Group F together with Algeria and Niger. After 6 matches, Algeria qualified as group leaders with 16 points while Tanzania qualified as group’s runners up with 8 points. This meant that Uganda and Niger who finished second last and last respectively were eliminated.
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who recently joined the East Africa Community were in group I together with Mauritania, Gabon and Sudan. After 6 matches DR Congo qualified after emerging the group winners with 12 points followed by Mauritania as group’s runners up with 10 points. Gabon and Sudan were eliminated after collecting 7 and 6 points respectively.
Rwanda who were in group L were eliminated after gaining only 3 points in 6 matches placing them at the bottom of the group. Senegal qualified for the tournament as group winners with 14 points and Mozambique also qualified as groups runners up with 10 points after 6 matches.
The East Africa Region will be represented by Tanzania and DR Congo in the tournament which will be held from 13 January – 11 February 2024 . All eyes are now set on the draw which will be held in Abidjan on 12 October 2023. The 24 teams will be drawn into six groups of four and now they are placed in four pots of 6 teams ahead of the draw.
Pot 1
Ivory Coast – Hosts
Senegal – Title Holders
Morocco
Tunisia
Algeria
Egypt
Pot 2
Cameroon
Nigeria
Mali
Burkina Faso
Ghana
South Africa
Pot 3
DR Congo
Cape Verde
Guinea
Zambia
Equatorial Guinea
Mauritania
Pot 4
Guinea-Bissau
Mozambique
Namibia
Angola
Gambia
Tanzania