World Cup qualifier moves to Madagascar after Bangui violence

Central African Republic flag

Football's world governing body Fifa moved a World Cup preliminary round tie from the Central African Republic to Madagascar for safety reasons due to clashes in Bangui that led to more than 20 deaths last week.

The Central African Republic were to host Madagascar in Bangui next Saturday in the first of a two-legged tie with the return leg in the Malagasy capital Antananarivo on 13 October.

Fifa said both matches will now be played in Madagascar.

Qualifiers in Africa for the 2018 World Cup begin on Wednesday.

The Central African Republic were also forced to give up home advantage during the last World Cup qualifying campaign when rebel attacks on Bangui led to the overthrow of the government in 2013.

Two other African countries are also unable to play their World Cup qualifiers at home next week.

Somalia, who have not played at home since October 1986 due to the conflict in the Horn of Africa, host Niger in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Friday with the return leg of the preliminary round tie in Niamey four days later.

Sierra Leone, still barred from hosting matches because of fears over the Ebola virus, are away in the first leg of their tie against Chad on Saturday and then host the return on 13 October in Port Harcourt in Nigeria.

It will be the second time that Sierra Leone have used the venue for one of their qualifiers.

Last month they held African champions Ivory Coast to a goalless draw there in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.