CAF must flex its muscles

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF), which for years has been bullied by north African clubs, has a great opportunity to shake off its tag of “toothless tiger”.

In trying to avoid blame for the current Champions League debacle, north African football giants Wydad Athletic Club said CAF called off their match against Kaizer Chiefs.

What Wydad did not say was that they informed CAF about visa problems four days before the match. This was unacceptable.

Wydad, as hosts, should have informed CAF and Chiefs in good time about their government’s refusal. South Africa’s high-risk Covid status was well known, and Wydad should have anticipated problems.

Wydad’s tardy behaviour was true to form, given the history of gamesmanship experienced by South African clubs in Africa. It was only when the South African Football Association took up Chiefs’ plight with CAF that the real facts emerged.

In the wake of CAF calling off the match, Wydad tested the waters and found that north African neighbours Egypt would host the match. The upshot was that earlier this week CAF ordered the match to be played in Egypt tomorrow.

But CAF’s lack of administrative capability was again exposed since Chiefs had less than seven days to obtain visas for Egypt. CAF should have known that it takes seven working days to obtain visas to travel to Egypt. Chiefs then informed CAF it was impossible to obtain the necessary visas. CAF conceded and announced a new date, also in Egypt. As it turned out, CAF did not consult with Egypt, who subsequently informed them that date was not available.

This seemingly endless trail of bungles has once again cast the spotlight firmly on CAF’s incompetence. The whole sorry saga, which remains unresolved, has been desperately unfair on Kaizer Chiefs. No wonder they seemed distracted in their match against AmaZulu on Wednesday.

It is time for CAF to address this incompetence and it can make a good start by throwing the rule book at Wydad.

We know what we are, but know not what we may be.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE English playwright