Mauritius will finally play the qualifying group stage for the next African Cup of Nations (CAN 2023). The Mauritians replace Sao Tomé and Principe in group A. In the preliminary round, against Club M, the Santomeans fielded a player who did not respect the anti-Covid protocol.
The Mauritius team may not have won on the pitch, in the preliminary round of qualifications for the next African Cup of Nations (CAN 2023). But the Mauritius Football Association (MFA) won a legal battle against its counterpart in Sao Tome and Principe.
The MFA has indeed announced on May 15, 2022 that its pennant selection will play the qualifying group stage for the AFCON 2023 : “ Following the complaint made by the MFA to the African Football Confederation (CAF) concerning the eligibility of the player Dos Anjos from Sao Tome, the African football body accepted the arguments of the Mauritian side. Thus Sao Tomé is fined 10,000 dollars and what is more, CAF grants a score of 3 to 0 in favor of Mauritius for the first leg against Sao Tomé. In the combined, Club M wins 6 to 3 and therefore qualifies. »
A statement confirmed to rfi.fr by CAF.
The experienced striker Leal Dos Anjos would not have respected the anti-Covid protocol during the first leg, won 1-0 by the Portuguese speakers. Result, the Verde-Amarelos find themselves ejected from a group A which includes Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. In June, it is therefore the Mauritians who will play against the Bissau-Guineans and the Nigerians.