Fifa moves Ethiopia and Senegal World Cup qualifiers

Posted by admin Headlines, Soccer, Sports Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

Ethiopia’s crucial World Cup qualifier away to Central African Republic in September has been moved to neutral Republic of Congo, the Ethiopian Football Federation said on Wednesday.

Football’s world governing body Fifa took the decision because of security reasons after after CAR’s president was overthrown this year.

The final Group A game match has been relocated to Brazzaville.

Fifa has also switched Senegal’s decisive final Group J game against Uganda to Morocco because of the ban on Senegal’s main football stadium.

Both games are scheduled for 7 September.

Ethiopia now must win to guarantee its progression to Africa’s 10-team play-offs for next year’s World Cup after it forfeited a victory over Botswana for fielding an ineligible player earlier in the competition.

A draw could be enough for the Ethiopians depending on the result of South Africa’s game with Botswana on the same day.

Ethiopia, who have never been to the World Cup, leads the group by two points ahead of the final round after the point totals were readjusted when Ethiopia was stripped of the Botswana win by Fifa.

Senegal’s place in the play-offs will be decided in Marrakech against Uganda in their winner-take-all match.

The Teranga Lions lead their group by a point but haven’t been allowed to play at Leopold Senghor Stadium in Dakar after being punished for a riot at an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast late last year.

The Confederation of African Football imposed a one-year ban on the venue and Senegal played its last home qualifier in Guinea.

The winners of Africa’s 10 groups qualify for the playoffs, with five teams eventually reaching next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Only top-ranked African team Ivory Coast, Egypt and Algeria have confirmed their places in the playoffs ahead of the final round of group games in early September.
-BBCwp_posts