Gavin Hunt, Head Coach of Kaizer Chiefs FC during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 game between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on 21 November 2020 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
CAF gives Chiefs, Sundowns’ opponents 24 hours to find neutral venues, BUT…
Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League matches in Morocco and Algeria has been plunged further into confusion.
Gavin Hunt, Head Coach of Kaizer Chiefs FC during the DStv Premiership 2020/21 game between Golden Arrows and Kaizer Chiefs at Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Durban on 21 November 2020 © Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
The mess that has become Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns’ CAF Champions League matches in Morocco and Algeria has been plunged further into confusion following CAF’s latest statement.
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Kaizer Chiefs were due to face Wydad Athletic of Morocco, while Mamelodi Sundowns were scheduled to take on CR Belouizdad of Algeria in CAF Champions League clashes that were both called off after the South African teams were denied visas to enter the countries of their opponents due to Covid-19 travel restrictions.
The matches were due to be Kaizer Chiefs’ first in Group C while Mamelodi Sundowns have already beaten Al Hilal of Sudan 2-0 on Group B.
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CAF has now reportedly issued an ultimatum to both the Moroccan and Algerian football federations to find a neutral venue to hold the matches by midnight on Sunday, 21 February.
Failure to do so would see both Kaizer Chiefs and Mamelodi Sundowns declared 2-0 winners.
READ | MAMELODI SUNDOWNS’ CAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE IN ALGERIA CANCELLED
While Amakhosi and the Brazilians would no doubt happily settle for 2-0 wins and three points and not have to worry about travelling, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is on record as saying they refuse to let their teams play at neutral venues!
READ | SAFA TO CAF: SOUTH AFRICAN TEAMS WILL NOT PLAY AT NEUTRAL VENUES
PROBLEM!
SAFA was widely commended for standing up to CAF.
It now appears there’s a stand-off between CAF, SAFA and the football federations from Morocco and Algeria.
Who knows how this will pan out?!
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