Following the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matchday four last weekend, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the kick-off date for the final tournament in Ivory Coast.

CAF announced on Thursday that 13 January 2024 is the kick-off date is set for Africa’s biggest event at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.

The final is expected to be played on 11 February 2024, as five former holders have already qualified for the 34th edition of the biennial African international association football tournament organized by CAF.

Qualified nations are Algeria, Morocco, South Africa, Tunisia, Burkina Faso and reigning champions Senegal secured qualification to Cote d’Ivoire this past weekend.

The four-week tournament, pitting Africa’s best 24 nations, will officially conclude on 11 February 2024.

CAF General Secretary Veron Mosengo-Omba also confirmed that the Final Draw of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Cote d’Ivoire is to be held in September 2023. The date and venue will be confirmed in due course.

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers’ teams are made up of 48 countries, but only 24 nations will make it to the 2023 AFCON competition in Ivory Coast.

The qualifiers will continue in June and September this year.

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Nigeria first choice keeper Francis Uzoho is to miss the decisive 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying away clash in Sierra Leone in June due to suspension, Football Sierra Leone understands.

Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus keeper picked up his second booking in the qualifying series against Guinea-Bissau on Monday night.

Uzoho was booked for time-wasting late in the game as Super Eagles of Nigeria regained the top spot in Group A after their 1-0 win through Moses Simon’s spot kick in the 30-minute.

The encounter was the matchday four reverse fixture of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers on Monday in Bissau.

The three-time African champions were victorious. As a result, the Super Eagles, on nine points, reclaim the top spot in Group A from Guinea-Bissau, who are second on seven points.

The 24-year-old was booked for a similar offence earlier in the qualifiers against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Abuja.

A win or draw against Sierra Leone will be enough for the Super Eagles to earn a berth at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire.

Sierra Leone, on the other hand, must win against the Super Eagles to keep their qualifying hopes alive before their final Group A cracker against Guinea-Bissau in September.

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers’ teams are made up of 48 countries, but only 24 nations will make it to the 2023 AFCON competition in Ivory Coast, which will take place from January to February 2024. 

The qualifiers will continue in June and September this year.

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Defending Champions Senegal joined hosts Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Tunisia and semi-finalists in 2021 Burkina-Faso as qualified nations for next year’s Cup of Nations final.

World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, Afcon defending champions Senegal, Algeria and South Africa, who defeated Lone Stars of Liberia at the SDK stadium 2-1 on Tuesday, have all qualified for the 34th edition of the biennial African international association football tournament organized by CAF.

The latest is the Eagles of Tunisia from group J and the Stallions of Burkina-Faso from group B.

In Benghazi on Tuesday night, Tunisia’s victory moved them to 10 points top of Group J, one ahead of second-placed Equatorial Guinea and seven ahead of the Libyans with two rounds of matches left.

Tunisia achieved their qualification on an unbeaten record and without conceding a goal, a statistic that excited head coach Jalel Kadri.

After four victories, the Teranga Lions booked a spot in Group L when they defeated hosts Mozambique 1-0 in Maputo thanks to Boulaye Dia’s 18th-minute strike, while Bafana Bafana ensured a top-two finish in three-team Group K (alongside already-qualified Morocco) with a 2-1 away win over Liberia in Monrovia.

Burkina Faso on ten points and Cape Verde on seven, both sitting comfortably first and second, respectively. Burkina Faso’s Stallions are on 10- points and top of Group B, three ahead of second-placed Cape Verde and eight ahead of third-placed eSwatini with two rounds of matches left to play. 

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers’ teams are made up of 48 countries, but only 24 nations will make it to the 2023 AFCON competition in Ivory Coast, which will take place from January to February 2024. 

The qualifiers will continue in June and September this year.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and African News. 

Super Eagles of Nigeria regain top spot in Group A after their 1-0 win through Moses Simon’s spot kick in the 30-minute in their matchday four reverse fixture of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers on Monday in Bissau.

After Guinea-Bissua’s victory in Abuja, it was evident that Nigeria must win to avenge their shock first-leg loss.

The three-time African champions were victorious. As a result, the Super Eagles, on nine points, reclaim the top spot in Group A from Guinea-Bissau, who are second on seven points.

Head coach Jose Peseiro made five changes, with Semi Ajayi, Kenneth Omeruo, Frank Onyeka, Terem Moffi and Moses Simon making their starting eleven.

The next matches in the qualifiers are in June when Super Eagles visit Sierra Leone as Guinea-Bissau battles things with Sao Tome before the final round of matches in September.

Interestingly, any of the top three nations can still qualify in this group.

Meanwhile, Algeria and Morocco, both North African nations, have qualified for the 34th edition of the biennial African International association football tournament organized by CAF.

The tournament is set to be hosted by Ivory Coast for the second time.

Connect with us @football_sierra on Facebook/ Instagram, Football Sierra Leone, and African News.