NIGERIA MUST NOW BEAT EGYPT TO QUALIFY

Chad yesterday dampened Nigeria’s faint hope of
qualifying for the Gabon 2017 African Nations Cup
when it announced its withdrawal from the qualifying
series.
To that effect, the Confederation of African Football
(CAF) has subsequently cancelled all the matches
played by the Chadians as well as the points from
such games.
Consequently, Nigeria, which beat the Chadians in
their first game of the series, have forfeited the
points from that game and therefore, have only two
points from the draws from the games against
Tanzania and Egypt.
Egypt also lost the three points they got from their
game against Chad, but they are on four points
following their win against Tanzania and the draw
they got in Kaduna on Friday.
The development has effectively killed Nigeria’s
chances of qualifying as one of the best second-
placed teams as only three teams are participating in
the qualifiers ion Group G.
Announcing the cancellation of the points, ACF said in
a statement yesterday that: “In conformity with
Article 61 of the regulations of the competition which
states: “If a team withdraws from the qualifying
phase organised in groups, all its results shall be
annulled (points, scored and conceded goals).”
“Consequently, the three matches of Chad of Group
G are cancelled and the results will not be taken into
consideration.
“Accordingly, following the decision of CAF Executive
Committee dated January 15 2015, any group
reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of a
team will have only the group winner qualifying for
the final tournament.
“Furthermore, the Chadian Football Federation has
been fined 20,000 US Dollars and also barred from
participating in the next edition of the AFCON in
conformity with Article 59 of the regulations of the
Competition which states “any association declaring
forfeit after the start of the matches is liable to a
fine of twenty thousand (20,000) U.S. dollars. It will
also not be allowed to participate in the next edition
of the AFCON.”
The implication is that Nigeria must beat Egypt in
Alexandria tomorrow to retain any chance of making
the Gabon 2017 African Nations Cup.

Source: www.guardian.ng/sport/chad-dampens-eagles-qualification-bid-as-caf-cancels-matches-points/

Lobatan .....bt why did dey withdraw