“If this condition is not met, the game will simply be cancelled and
the organising committee for the Africa Cup of Nations will rule on the
case,” it added.
Mohamed
Zidan of Egypt (C) is challenged by Damien Chrysostome (R) and Khaled
Adenon of Benin during their African Nations Cup soccer match at Ombaka
stadium in Benguela January 20, 2010.
Benin have been granted a partial reprieve from the prospect of having to forfeit a key African Nations Cup qualifier after their suspension was conditionally lifted by FIFA.
The
small west African country was banned by world football’s governing
body last month after a local court stopped its football federation
elections. FIFA has suspended several countries previously for outside
interference in footballing affairs.
The ban
threatened the Group C qualifier against Equatorial Guinea, scheduled
for Cotonou on Sunday, but the Confederation of African Football (CAF)
said it would now be played on June 12.
“Following
the decision of the FIFA Council on the conditional lifting of the
suspension of Benin, CAF decided to postpone the qualifier initially
scheduled for June 5,” said a statement on Saturday, adding that it would go ahead only if elections took place no later than June 11.
“If
this condition is not met, the game will simply be cancelled and the
organising committee for the Africa Cup of Nations will rule on the
case,” it added.
Benin are in contention for a place in next year’s finals, sitting two points behind group leaders Mali with two matches left.
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