The 2nd edition of the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations Championship starts this weekend in Senegal. The Championship serves as the qualifiers in Africa to the football event of the 2016 Olympics in Rio De Janeiro.
Eight teams will take part in the CAF U-23 Africa Cup of Nations from November 28 to December 12, 2015 with the winners, runners-up and third-placed teams assured of direct qualification while the fourth-placed side will be involved in a play-off to determine their participation at the Games.
The tournament was initially scheduled to take place in the Democratic Republic of the Congo between 5–19 December 2015.
However CAF changed the hosts and requested Senegal to host the tournament instead, and the tournament dates were also changed later.
Egypt were the third-placed team while fourth-placed Senegal qualified for the 2012 Olympics via the Play-Offs.
Three teams; Mali, Tunisia and Zambia will be making their debuts in Senegal.
Nigeria's U-23 Eagles, South Africa and Algeria exited the tournament in the group stages when this format of qualification to the Olympics started and held in Morocco in 2011.
The second edition which kicks off this weekend will hold in two Senegalese cities of Dakar (capital) and M'Bour.
The 60,000 capacity Stade Leopold Sedar Senghor in Dakar and the smaller Stade Caroline Faye in M'Bour which sits 5,000 fans will be the venues.
A total of 23 match officials (10 referees and 13 assistants) have been selected for the 2015 U-23 AFCON.
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