CAF trying to come up with qualifying plan for African Nations Cup

July 17 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has convened a special meeting to work out the qualifying system for the African Nations Cup to be staged in Libya in 2013.

Already qualifications for the 2012 edition to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea are underway, with Botswana the surprise package in Group K, topping the standings with six points after two rounds.

However, CAF took a decision to move the biennial tournament to odd years following complaints that during the World Cup year, countries that have qualified for both the African Nations Cup and World Cup performed poorly because of taking part in two intense competitions within a space of five months.

There is a move for teams who qualify for the 2012 tournament to be automatically included in the 2013 tournament for the 2013 edition as well.

But CAF spokesman Suleiman Habuba claimed that this plan has been dismissed.

Habuba said CAF will convene a special technical and competition committee to sit down and work out the mechanism for qualification to the 2013 edition.

“It must also be remembered that during the same period Africa will also be engaged in qualifications for the 2014 World Cup tournament to be staged in Brazil,” Habuba said.

“I can confirm that countries that shall have qualified for the 2012 tournament will not automatically qualify for the next edition as well.

“CAF will issue a statement in due course regarding how teams will qualify for the 2013 edition.”