CAF confirms draw date for AFCON 2023 prelims, World Cup 2022 qualifiers

Douala (Cameroon), Jan. 17, 2022

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the dates and the times for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Cote d’Ivoire 2023 and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, African Qualifiers.

A statement on the CAF official website on Monday said: “CAF today confirmed the dates and the times for the upcoming TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 and FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, African Qualifiers.

“The TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Preliminary Round draw will be conducted on Friday, Jan. 21, 2022 at 16h00 (15h00 GMT, 17h00 CAT) in Douala.

“The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, African Qualifiers Third Round draw will be conducted on Saturday, Jan. 22,  2022 at 16h00 at the same venue, in Douala. (15h00 GMT, 17h00 CAT)

“Both draws will be live on CAF platforms,” the statement said.

It said that the AFCON Cote d’Ivoire 2023 Preliminary Round would involve the 12 least ranked teams, adding that the teams would be divided into two levels with the six highest ranked teams playing against the six least ranked teams.

It noted the 1st leg will be played at the home of the lower ranked teams with the six aggregate winners joining the 42 highest ranked teams into the Group Stage of the qualifiers.

The 12 teams are divided into two levels as follows:

Level 1: Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Gambia, South Sudan, Mauritius

Level 2: Chad, Sao Tome & Principe, Djibouti, Somalia, Seychelles, Eritrea

It also said the draw for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, African Qualifiers, would see the 10 qualified teams divided into two levels based on the official FIFA ranking, published in November 2021.

“The five highest ranked teams will play against the five least ranked teams (the first leg will be played at home of the lower ranked teams).

“According to the ranking published on Nov. 19, 2021 after the last round, the distribution of the teams on the two pots shall be as follows:

“Level 1: Senegal, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria and Nigeria

“Level 2: Egypt, Cameroon, Ghana, Mali and DR Congo.”