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ZIMBABWE will take the long route for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to be hosted by Morocco as they are set to begin their qualifying campaign in the preliminary round later this year.The Warriors will be involved in a draw to be conducted on April 27 in Egypt alongside 50 other nations that have registered to enter the next edition of the tournament.
The Caf executive Committee which met in South Africa at the weekend resolved that the final phase of the tournament will be played from January 17 to February 7 next year in the cities of Rabat, Agadir, Tangier and Marrakech.
According to a statement from the continental football motherbody the top 21 nations have been exempted from the preliminary rounds during the qualifiers which begin in May and conclude in August.
Zimbabwe who last graced the finals of the tournament in 2006 are ranked 32nd on the list with a paltry four points while leaders Nigeria have 39,5.
The ranking combines the performance of the teams in the three last editions of the Afcon tournament, during the qualifiers of these editions, as well as during the qualifiers of the World Cup 2014.
Teams are rated largely according to their showing in the last edition of the tournament in 2013. The executive committee also indicated that they considered performances in the recent World Cup qualifiers, the 2012 Afcon results from the qualifying rounds and to a lesser extent the teams’ displays at the 2010 Afcon finals.
“The qualifiers shall be played in the format of several preliminary rounds, as well as a group phase with seven groups consisting of four teams each. The two top teams of each group will then directly qualify for the Orange Afcon 2015, along with the third place winners of the seven groups.
“The group phase shall be held from September 5 to November 19, 2014. The final phase’s draw shall be conducted on November 26th 2014 in Morocco; the city remains to be decided.
“Out of the 51 countries engaged in these qualifiers, the top 21 teams listed in the Caf Ranking shall automatically qualify for the group phase.
“The seven others partaking in the group phase shall be determined following the conclusion of the preliminary rounds, held from May to August 2014.”
Meanwhile, Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia have submitted bids for the rights to host the 2019 edition of Afcon.
The trio of Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea has also indicated their interest for the 2021 edition. The rights for the hosting of the 2017 tournament have been given to Libya.
Online Reporter