Rabat was the location on Friday as Confederation of African Football (CAF) carried out the draw for the 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations that will start on June 24. The competition will be hosted by Morocco and serves as Africa’s qualification competition to determine which teams represent the continent at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Cameroon national team legend and scorer of four goals during the country’s Bronze Medal finish at the 2000 Olympics, Patrick Mboma, was on hand along with former Morocco national team star Aziz Bouderbala to draw the teams. Group A features hosts Morocco along with Ghana, Republic of Congo and Guinea while Group B will see Egypt, Mali, Gabon and Niger battle for a spot in the semifinals.
The eight participants were drawn into two groups of four teams each on Friday with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the semifinals, from which three teams will qualify for the Olympics including the two finalists and the winner of the Third Place match. The loser of the Third Place match will take part in an intercontinental playoff against the team who finishes in fourth place at the 2024 AFC U-23 Asian Cup.
The full draw and schedule for both groups are below.
Group A
- Morocco (Hosts)
- Ghana
- Republic of Congo
- Guinea
Group A Schedule- Rabat
June 24
Morocco vs. Guinea
June 25
Ghana vs. Republic of Congo
June 27
Republic of Congo vs. Guinea
Morocco vs. Ghana
June 30
Morocco vs. Republic of Congo
Guinea vs. Ghana
Group B
- Egypt
- Mali
- Gabon
- Niger
Group B Schedule- Tangier
June 25
Egypt vs. Niger
Mali vs. Gabon
June 28
Egypt vs. Mali
Gabon vs. Niger
July 1
Gabon vs. Egypt
Niger vs. Mali
