Botswana return to AFCON after 13-year absence - Mauritania, Cape Verde miss out

Botswana are back at the Africa Cup of Nations after a 13-year absence, following their qualification for the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast.

The Zebras secured their place at the finals with a 1-0 victory over Angola in their final Group I qualifier on Sunday. The win saw Botswana finish second in the group behind Senegal, who had already qualified for the tournament as hosts.

Botswana's last appearance at the AFCON came in 2012, when they were eliminated in the group stage. They will be hoping to make a better impression this time around, and will be confident of their chances after an impressive qualifying campaign.

Mauritania and Cape Verde will miss out on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to qualify from their respective groups.

Mauritania finished third in Group I, behind Botswana and Senegal, while Cape Verde finished fourth in Group B, behind Burkina Faso, Cameroon, and Burundi.

Both teams will be disappointed to have missed out on the tournament, but they will have the chance to qualify for the 2025 edition, which will be held in Guinea.

Qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations was a closely contested affair, with several teams vying for the final places.

In the end, it was Botswana who emerged victorious in Group I, with Senegal finishing as runners-up. Mauritania and Cape Verde were left to rue missed opportunities, as they finished third and fourth in their respective groups.

The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations will be held in Ivory Coast from June 23 to July 23. The tournament will feature 24 teams, who will be divided into six groups of four. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage.