CAF Rules Absent Teams To Forfeit Matches

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released new
guidelines specifying that any national team unable to play in
upcoming qualifying matches for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations due
to Covid-19 restrictions will be deemed to have lost the game
2-0.

The guidelines, put out by CAF also say a team will be
considered to have lost 2-0 if it is unable to field the minimum
number of players required – 11 plus four substitutes.

Normally, squads for these qualifying matches would be much
larger, but some national team managers have expressed concern
about their ability to get players, especially those based in
Europe, to play in Africa amidst fears they could get Covid.

During the last break, Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew and
Liverpool’s Naby Keita both contracted the virus while on
international duty.

The Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet has complained that Polish side
Gornik Zabrze have so far said that Alasana Manneh will not be
allowed to join up with the Scorpions.

The guidelines also say that all matches must be played behind
closed doors, although national FAs can ask for special permission
to have fans in.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released new
guidelines specifying that any national team unable to play in
upcoming qualifying matches for the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations due
to Covid-19 restrictions will be deemed to have lost the game
2-0.

The guidelines, put out by CAF also say a team will be
considered to have lost 2-0 if it is unable to field the minimum
number of players required – 11 plus four substitutes.

Normally, squads for these qualifying matches would be much
larger, but some national team managers have expressed concern
about their ability to get players, especially those based in
Europe, to play in Africa amidst fears they could get Covid.

During the last break, Crystal Palace’s Jordan Ayew and
Liverpool’s Naby Keita both contracted the virus while on
international duty.

The Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet has complained that Polish side
Gornik Zabrze have so far said that Alasana Manneh will not be
allowed to join up with the Scorpions.

The guidelines also say that all matches must be played behind
closed doors, although national FAs can ask for special permission
to have fans in.