The tournament, which will serve as a qualifier for the Rio tournament, will be held from November 28 to December 12, offering more headaches for coach Owen da Gama, who must persuade PSL clubs to give up their best youngsters.
South Africa have not yet qualified for that tournament, but have a very good chance with just one of Zimbabwe are Swaziland standing in their way.
Those two played to a 0-0 draw in Swaziland in the first leg of their preliminary round tie and, with the return in Maseru to come, the latter may well consider themselves favourites. They will meet the winner of that tie in July for a place in the continental finals.
South Africa got a stroke of fortune in qualification for the Under-23 competition with Senegal initially in their path to the finals.
But when DR Congo pulled out of hosting the event and it was moved to Senegal, the latter qualified as hosts and the draw opened up for South Africa.
Meanwhile, CAF also announced that the 2016 African Women’s Championship in Cameroon has been moved to November 19-December 3 and will be played in Yaounde and Limbe.
The tournament had initially been scheduled for October, but heavy rains at that time of year saw Cameroon request the date change, to which CAF agreed.?
CAF also ruled favourably on the request of the Tanzanian Football Association to host the 2019 African Under-17 Championship, as well as on Niger’s request for the CAF Under-20 Championship the same year.
CAF has also opened tenders for the organisation of the 2017 Africa Beach Soccer Championship, 2018 African Women Championship, 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the 2020 African Futsal championship.