Zimbabwe are out of the 2023 edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament in Ivory Coast after their suspension was not lifted before the start of the qualifying matches in their group. Alongside Kenya, Zimbabwe were suspended by world football’s governing body, FIFA. The two countries were part of the draw for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers despite their temporary suspension from all football activities on the international stage by FIFA.

On May 23, 2022, African football’s governing body, CAF, officially announced that Kenya and Zimbabwe won’t be part of the 2023 AFCON qualifiers after the FIFA suspension for each of the two countries was not lifted. It had earlier been established that the FIFA suspension must be lifted two weeks before the start of their respective qualifying matches. (more…)