Kenya will be included in the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) draw on Tuesday, April 19, in Johannesburg, South Africa despite a ban by world football governing body FIFA.
A Confederation of African Football (CAF) spokesman informed international publications that they allowed both Kenya and Zimbabwe to participate in the draw in the event that the ban will be lifted two weeks prior to the first match in June.
Zimbabwe also faced FIFA's axe after its football board was ejected from office by the Sports and Recreation Commission in November 2021.
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The two countries will be expected to take part in the qualifying rounds which will be played beginning next month.
The first two qualifying matches will be between May 30, 2022, and June 14, 2022, while two more rounds will be played between September 19, 2022, and September 27, 2022. The final two matches will be played next year from March 20-28, 2023.
"We have included the two countries in the hope that the bans will be lifted no later than two weeks before the first matchday in June," the official stated.
On the other hand, if Kenya fails to have the suspensions lifted, the groups will collapse from four to three and the top two teams will qualify for the next round.
Kenya will be seeking to secure a place in the continental showpiece, which expanded from 16 to 24 teams. A total of six stadiums will be required for the event. Host nation, Cote d'ivoire, has currently proposed stadiums in different cities including San Pedro, Abidjan (two), Korhogo, Bouake, and Yamoussoukro.
FIFA had effected the ban as punishment for government interference in matters of sports.
This is after Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed disbanded the Football Kenya Federation’s national executive committee and accused its boss, Nick Mwendwa, of mismanagement.
A caretaker committee was appointed to oversee matters and conduct operations, however, it will cease operations in May.
CS Amina recently stated that talks with FIFA for a possible lifting of the ban would only commence after a thorough cleanup.