FIFA move Ethiopia’s crucial W-cup qualifier to neutral venue

JOHANNESBURG: FIFA moved Ethiopia’s crucial World Cup qualifier at Central African Republic in September to neutral Republic of Congo, the Ethiopian Football Federation said yesterday.

FIFA also decided that Senegal will play their decisive final group game against Uganda in Morocco because of the ban on Senegal’s main football stadium.

Both games are scheduled for Sept 7.

Ethiopia’s final Group A game was meant to be hosted by Central African Republic but was relocated to Brazzaville for security reasons after CAR’s president was overthrown this year. The country’s qualifier against South Africa last month was played in neutral Cameroon.

Ethiopia now must win to guarantee their progression to Africa’s 10team playoffs for next year’s World Cup after they 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 ofSouthAfrica’sgamewithBotswana on the same day.

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

Senegal’s place in the playoffs will be decided in Marrakech against Group J challengers Uganda in their winners-take-all match. Senegal lead that 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 African Nations Cup qualifier against Ivory Coast late last year. — AP