Kenya and Zimbabwe have been removed from the qualification process for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to suspensions imposed on them by FIFA.
FIFA suspended the football associations of the two nations in February, owing to “undue interference by a third party”.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said they were suspended for “political interference”.
CAF had included Kenya and Zimbabwe in the draw for the 2023 AFCON in April, on the provision that they successfully appealed against their FIFA suspension.
But, with qualification for the tournament to begin next month, CAF says that Kenya and Zimbabwe “have not yet met the criteria required by the FIFA Congress as a prerequisite for lifting their suspension”.
The groups that they had been drawn in will now only contain three teams, with the top two still qualifying for the tournament.
Kenya had been drawn in Group C with Burundi, Cameroon and Namibia. Zimbabwe were placed in Group K with Liberia, Morocco and South Africa.
The 2023 AFCON will take place in Ivory Coast.