Defending Champions Senegal joined hosts Ivory Coast, Morocco, Algeria, South Africa, Tunisia and semi-finalists in 2021 Burkina-Faso as qualified nations for next year’s Cup of Nations final.

World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, Afcon defending champions Senegal, Algeria and South Africa, who defeated Lone Stars of Liberia at the SDK stadium 2-1 on Tuesday, have all qualified for the 34th edition of the biennial African international association football tournament organized by CAF.

The latest is the Eagles of Tunisia from group J and the Stallions of Burkina-Faso from group B.

In Benghazi on Tuesday night, Tunisia’s victory moved them to 10 points top of Group J, one ahead of second-placed Equatorial Guinea and seven ahead of the Libyans with two rounds of matches left.

Tunisia achieved their qualification on an unbeaten record and without conceding a goal, a statistic that excited head coach Jalel Kadri.

After four victories, the Teranga Lions booked a spot in Group L when they defeated hosts Mozambique 1-0 in Maputo thanks to Boulaye Dia’s 18th-minute strike, while Bafana Bafana ensured a top-two finish in three-team Group K (alongside already-qualified Morocco) with a 2-1 away win over Liberia in Monrovia.

Burkina Faso on ten points and Cape Verde on seven, both sitting comfortably first and second, respectively. Burkina Faso’s Stallions are on 10- points and top of Group B, three ahead of second-placed Cape Verde and eight ahead of third-placed eSwatini with two rounds of matches left to play. 

The 2023 AFCON qualifiers’ teams are made up of 48 countries, but only 24 nations will make it to the 2023 AFCON competition in Ivory Coast, which will take place from January to February 2024. 

The qualifiers will continue in June and September this year.

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