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Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Friday that its Executive Committee (EXCO) has approved the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers schedule, as well as announced the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2023 final draw date.
Acknowledging the progress Cote D’Ivoire has made in its preparations for the upcoming AFCON, the EXCO announced that the official draw of the 2023 AFCON will take place on October 12, 2023. The event will determine the groupings and match schedules for the tournament.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe extended his gratitude to Cote d’Ivoire President Alassane Ouattara and Prime Minister Patrick Achi for their “cooperation and commitment” to ensure that the 2023 AFCON is “world-class,” CAF said in a press release.
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.
Matchday 1 and 2 of the World Cup qualifiers will take place between November 13 and 21, 2023, followed by matchday 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.
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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.
CAF also announced that Cote d’Ivoire has been selected to host the CAF Women’s Champions League 2023, an opportunity for the country to “test the facilities” that will be used for next year’s AFCON, added the statement.
The decision to grant Cote d’Ivoire the tournament’s hosting rights comes after Morocco withdrew its bid to host the event in support of the West African country’s candidacy.
President of Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa announced Morocco’s official withdrawal on Thursday during the CAF EXCO meeting in Algier, during which he celebrated the ties between Morocco and Cote D’Ivoire.
