The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will make a ruling on the botched first round, second leg CAF Confederation Cup game which was meant to be played on January 6, 2021.
Wednesday’s game has now been officially called off after the request of the South Africans to receive a special waiver from the Nigerian Government.
Health restrictions
Following the recent identification of a new variant of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), health officials in Nigeria imposed additional restrictions on international travelers entering the country.
Individuals arriving from the UK or South Africa are to obtain and present a pre-departure permit to fly and a QR code confirming they have booked a COVID-19 test on the seventh day of their trip in Nigeria.
Additionally, all travelers from the UK or South Africa are to provide a negative COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results from an exam taken within 96 hours prior to boarding.
Upon arrival passengers whose point of origin is from either the UK or South Africa will be processed by the public health authorities separately from those individuals arriving from other destinations.
Regardless of the point of origin, quarantine requirements remain in effect for all arriving travelers.
The affected individuals are also required to present proof of having tested negative for COVID-19 taken up to 120 hours (five days) before arrival with all new arrivals observing a mandatory self-quarantine period of at least seven days in the city of their arrival regardless of negative test status.
Special waiver and a denial
The Bloemfontein Celtics contingent to Nigeria subsequently requested for a special waiver on the stipulated conditions which was turned down by the Nigeria health authorities.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reacted to the situation.
Informing the South Africa club of the latest situation, the NFF’s general secretary, Mohammed Sanusi explained that the Authorities did not grant the request for a waiver, largely because “of the alarming surge in the rising number of COVID-19 infections across the country”.
“(The NFF) regrettably informs you that our request for a waiver for the Bloemfontein Celtic Fc contingent to Nigeria, for the CAF CC Match #70 has been declined by the Authorities,” Dr. Sanusi explained via the correspondence.
“We had high hopes of getting a waiver before the end of working day today, but unfortunately the request was not approved. “This must be as a result of the alarming surge in the rising number of COVID-19 infections across the country and not targeted at any demographic group or country. “In view of the foregoing, Nigeria Football Federation wish to kindly request the General Secretary to consider the postponement of the game and a possible rescheduling of both the Date and venue of the match, with the possibility of staging the match in any of the Nigeria neighboring countries with a little less stringent COVID-19 protocols.
“Please understand that the health policy as put in place by the Nigeria Health authority is aimed at controlling the spread of the already alarming number of COVID-19 infections in Nigeria and not aimed at South African Nationals. “The relationship between these two countries remains cordial.”
SPNAfrica delves in
Our findings at SPNAfrica News shows that the South Africans have still not arrived in Nigeria as at Tuesday afternoon and are unlikely to do so before Wednesday’s kickoff time for the game.
It has been reportedly discussed that the second leg of the tie could be played at a neutral venue (outside of Nigeria) but ratification has yet to be received.
The CAF response
SPNAfrica News dug further and reached out to frica’s football governing body.
Confirmation was received from CAF on Tuesday evening that the game had indeed been called off.
CAF further added that “a competent body within CAF to decide on the appropriate course of action to follow.”
“We hereby inform you that the case will be submitted to the competent body within CAF to decide on the appropriate course of action to follow,” a CAF spokesperson, Alexandre Siewe revealed to SPNAfricaNews.
“The decision shall be communicated in due time. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.”
