/ 4 June 2008

African federation kicks Chad out of Nations Cup

Chad have been thrown out of the Africa Cup of Nations after African soccer’s governing body blamed them for causing an unnecessary postponement of their World Cup qualifier against neighbours Sudan last weekend.

The Confederation of African Football said Chad’s soccer federation had been given assurances of their safety ahead of the match in Sudan but still refused to travel citing the border tension between the two countries.

CAF said on Tuesday they would no longer consider Chad’s results towards a place in the Nations Cup.

Fifa postponed Saturday’s game and has yet to set a new date. The qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup also decide the 16 finalists for the 2010 Africa Nations Cup finals in Angola.

Chad would have to finish in the top two in their group for the decision to have any impact, which also includes the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mali.

Sudan last month broke off diplomatic ties with Chad, saying its neighbour had backed a rebel attack on the outskirts of the capital, Khartoum. – Reuters