The Kenyan women's soccer team was denied reinstatement in the African Cup of Nations, which begins next month, on Friday, citing a legal technicality.
Kenya will not be able to compete in the 2023 Women's World Cup as a result of the Court of Arbitration for Sport's decision, as the African championship is a FIFA qualifying event.
Kenya's football body withdrew the squad in January, before of a Cup of Nations qualification match against Uganda, which was admitted into the finals by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The Kenyan players requested that the two-leg series against Uganda be played before the 12-nation competition begins on July 2 in Morocco.
According to CAS, the judge determined that he only had authority to examine the first judgment in Kenya, which was reversed, but not the second decision by the continental governing body.
“The appeal was directed against the (Kenyan federation) decision only,” the court said in a statement. “Since no appeal has been filed against the CAF decision to qualify Uganda to the next qualifying round, the CAS could not review it.”