Benin's Afcon qualifier against Equatorial Guinea postponed
- Published
Fifa's council can readmit Benin to global football
The 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Benin and Equatorial Guinea has been postponed by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) following a decision by Fifa's council to conditionally lift a ban on Benin.
The Group C match was originally scheduled to be played in Cotonou on Sunday 5 June.
Caf confirmed that the qualifier would now be played on Sunday 12 June,, external only if elections for a new Benin Football Federation (FBF) Executive Committee are held "no later than 11 June 2016."
Group C of 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying: | |
|---|---|
As it stands after four matches: | If Benin are disqualified: |
Mali - 10 points | Mali - 9 points from 3 matches |
Benin - 8 points | South Sudan - 3 points from 2 matches |
South Sudan - 3 points | Eq Guinea - 0 points from 3 matches |
Eq Guinea - 1 point (eliminated) | |
Fifa suspended the FBF from global football after a court ruling in the country blocked upcoming elections.
Benin's minister of sport Oswald Homeky said: "We are still in discussions with the protagonists of the crisis in the football federation. We remain hopeful."
A Squirrels squad had been in Cotonou training for the match while the already eliminated Equatorial Guinea cancelled a friendly against Uzbekistan in Tashkent on Thursday, because of the qualifier.
The Equatorial Guinea Football Federation said they were hopeful that they could re-organise the friendly against Uzbekistan as soon as possible.
Benin are currently the best second-placed side in the competition with eight points.
They are two points behind Mali who play South Sudan on Saturday in the other match in the group.
- Published11 May 2016
