African Cup of Nations 2023: CAF Announces Dates of Qualifying Phase for Tournament in Ivory Coast

• The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed when the qualifying phase for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will begin
• The tournament will take place in the Ivory Coast from 23 June until the end of July next year, less than the usual two years after this year's edition that was held in Cameroon
• The race to get to West Africa will begin on 30 May, and will conclude on 28 March next year as Senegal aims to defend its crown

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed the dates when qualifying for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will begin.

The 2023 AFCON - the 33rd edition of the continental showpiece - is set to take place between June and July of next year in the Ivory Coast. The qualifying group draw is scheduled to take place on Tuesday, 19 April.

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There will be 12 groups of four teams each for the qualifying phase, from which only two teams can progress to the tournament.

The first two matchdays of the qualifiers are set to take place between 30 May and 14 June. Match days three and four will then be held between 19 and 27 September.

The final two rounds will then take place between 20 and 28 March 2023.

CAF president Motsepe happy with the Ivory Coast's AFCON preparations

Patrice Motsepe, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, has said that he is reassured by the Ivory Coast's ongoing preparations for next year's African Cup of Nations to be hosted in that country.

As reported by Sports Brief, the tournament will take place once again in West Africa from 23 June until July 2023. This will be after just 18 months since this year's edition held in Cameroon, due to the disruptions to the global sports calendar caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Importantly, the tournament is returning to its traditional slot in the middle of the year, bi-annually.

The Ivory Coast last hosted the event in 1984, and is either building or renovating six stadiums in preparation for the tournament.