Soccer-Kenya, Zimbabwe thrown out of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Africa Cup of Nations 2019 - Group C - Kenya v Senegal - 30 June Stadium, Cairo, Egypt - July 1, 2019 Kenya team huddle REUTERS/Suhaib Salem

(Reuters) - Kenya and Zimbabwe have been booted out of qualifiers for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals after failing to have their FIFA suspensions set aside by this week's deadline, the continent's governing body said.

The football associations of both countries have been suspended for "political interference" and were only included in the draw for the qualifiers on the proviso they would be cleared by FIFA to compete.