By Kamsi Anayo with agency report
All 24 countries that will trade tackles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire have sealed qualification for the tournament.
Five-time AFCON champions Cameroon on Tuesday spanked Burundi 3-O to complete the star-studded list of qualified teams.
A breakdown of the qualified countries shows that 12 former AFCON champions, including three-time champions Nigeria, will be on parade come January 2024.
Hosts Cote d’Ivoire will lead a strong West African contingent of 11 countries, including holders Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, and Burkina Faso, among others.
Tanzania, representing East Africa, returns for a second final after a brave showing in the qualifiers.
The North Africans are represented by seven-time champions Egypt and World Cup semi-finalists Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria.
Egypt will be looking for an eighth unprecedented title, having reached two of the last three finals in 2017 and at the 2021 edition.
There will be no debutants in this edition, as the continent’s football powerhouses managed to maintain and seal qualification.
The 2023 AFCON will take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, after it was postponed from its original June 2023 date.
The full list of 24 qualified countries are Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire (hosts), and DR Congo.
Others are Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, and Mozambique,
Others are Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal (title holders), South Africa, Tanzania, Tunisia, and Zambia.