With the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations coming to an end on 6th February, the focus quickly shifts to the next edition set to be staged in Ivory Coast in 2023 with the draws for the preliminary round qualifiers which was conducted on Friday afternoon on the sidelines of the CAF General Assembly.
The Preliminary Round will see the 12 least ranked teams. The 12 teams will be divided into two levels. The six highest ranked teams will play against the six least ranked teams (the 1st leg will be played at home of the lower ranked teams).
The six aggregate winners will join the 42 highest ranked teams into the Group Stage of the qualifiers.
Level 1: Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Gambia, South Sudan, Mauritius
Level 2: Chad, Sao Tome & Principe, Djibouti, Somalia, Seychelles, Eritrea
FIXTURES
Eritrea vs Botswana
Sao Tome & Principe vs Mauritius
Djibouti vs South Sudan
Seychelles vs Lesotho
Somalia vs Eswatini
CHAD vs The Gambia