Equatorial Guinea have been disqualified from the CAF Women’s African Nations Cup after CAF ruled that an ineligible player took the pitch against Kenya in the second preliminary round. Kenya have accordingly been reinstated and will compete in the Women’s African Nations Cup instead.

Before the second leg of the teams’ second preliminary round series on SAT 09 JUN 2018, Kenya filed a protest, alleging six ineligible players on the Eq Guinea squad. Eq Guinea would win the series 3-2 on aggregate, but on WED 17 OCT 2018, the CAF disciplinary board upheld Kenya’s protest regarding one of the players, Anette Jacky MESSOMO, who played in both legs. According to CAF, Messomo is Cameroonian and was ineligible to represent Eq Guinea.

Eq Guinea were already ineligible to take part in the Women’s World Cup after they fielded ten ineligible players in the qualifiers for the 2016 Olympic women’s football tournament. CAF’s decision now bans them from the Women’s African Nations Cup entirely and allows Kenya to take their place.

The draw for the Women’s African Nations Cup, to be held in Ghana next month, remains scheduled for SUN 21 OCT 2018. The tournament will decide CAF’s three places at France 2019.