Harambee Stars qualify for 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

It's now official that Harambee Stars have qualified for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) slated for June 15 to July 11.

This is after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed that Sierra Leone was disqualified from the qualifiers last Friday following an Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting in Accra, Ghana. The West African nation is also suspended from all football activities by the world governing body, FIFA, due to government interference.

"The CAF Executive committee decided that Sierra Leone is disqualified," Caf Communication Director Nathalie Rabe told Nation Sport on December 3.

"So the Group 'F' is composed of three teams; Ethiopia, Ghana and Kenya," she added.

The development means Kenya is assured of a top-two finish regardless of the outcome of their final match against Ghana in March since they top the group with seven points, one ahead of four-time champions Black Stars.

Ethiopia is bottom with one point having played all their four matches.

Stars – who started this campaign on a wrong footing going down 2-1 away to Sierra Leone June last year before reviving their hopes with an infamous 1-0 win over Ghana in September and the 3-0 thrashing of Ethiopia 3-0 at home in October – last featured at the biennial tourney in 2004 in Tunisia.

Cameroon, who were stripped off the hosting rights last week, lost the automatic qualification but are still in contention to claim the remaining ticket from Group 'B'.