Sat, 08 Jul 2017 13:15:30 +0000
…As CAF suspends Sudan’s Al Hilal
By MICHAEL MIYOBA
ZESCO United’s hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the 2017 CAF Confederations Cup received a massive boost after CAF suspended the Sudanese giants Al Hilah from taking part in continental tournaments.
This follows a decision by the Bureau of the FIFA Council to ban Sudan Football Association from taking part in international tournaments due to the ongoing wrangles in the Sudanese FA.
In a letter directed to Zesco United and Al Hilah Obeid FC, CAF Secretary-General Essam Ahmed disclosed that the Confederations Cup fixture involving the two teams has been cancelled due to the decision by FIFA to ban the Sudanese FA.
“Kindly be informed that we have received a letter from FIFA announcing the suspension of Sudan FA. Acording to the decision of FIFA, the Sudanese FA representatives and club teams are no longer entitled to take part in international tournaments,” read part of the letter from CAF directed to the two clubs.
“Consequently, El Hilal Obeid is not allowed to participate in CAF matches and is disqualified from CAF interclub competitions in accordance to FIFA decision. The aforementioned match is hereby canceled and will not take place as scheduled and the mission of CAF officials is cancelled.”
The suspension of the Sudanese FA by the world football governing body FIFA means Sudan lose all its membership rights as defined in article 13 of the FIFA statues.
Al Hilal Obeid that had qualified for the quarter-final stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and were to face Zesco United today and will have to travel back to Sudan heartbroken.
Sudan’s top sides Al Merreikh and Al Hilal Omdurman that were meant to battle in the CAF Champions League matches against Etoile Du Sahel and Ferroviario Da Beira respectively this weekend are technically out of the tournament.
On 27 June, Samoura, in a letter to SFA warned that the world football governing body would suspend Sudan if certain measures were not taken by 30 June.
Two rival groups have been claiming to run affairs of the Sudan Football Association (SFA) although FIFA only recognises the one run by Mutasim Gaafar Sir Elkhatim.
But on 2 June Mutasim’s executive was forcefully evacuated from the premises reportedly by the government. The evacuation was reportedly enforced through a decree from the undersecretary of the Ministry of Justice. After the evacuation, the rival body under Abdel Rahman Sir Elkatim was allowed to occupy the headquarters.
In April this year, Abdel-Rahman Sir Elkhatim reportedly won the SFA electionsa few days after FIFA had ordered the suspension of the elections for six months. Mutasim Gaafar Sir Elkhatim reported the matter to FIFA, claiming the election was illegal.
But on 13 June FIFA sent a delegation to Khartoum in an effort to reach a solution and met the two disputing groups and the Minister of Youth and Sport, Abdel-Karim Musa. But the two bodies, including the Minister, did not agree to the direction the FIFA officials were reportedly taking.
Last Friday, the two rival parties in Sudan and the Ministry of Youth and Sports met, but failed to take action as was requested by FIFA.
And despite the Sudanese FA having been banned, Zesco United will have to wait upon CAF on the final decision while the other Group C match between Smouha and CRD du Libolo will take place as scheduled on Sunday.
