WORLD SERVICE
Africa MARK GLEESON
Ban on Sudanese teams causes chaos CAF disqualifies three clubs – but then lets one back in he group stage of the two African play the first leg of their quarter-final against Wydad club competitions was thrown into at home. However, they are probably pleased as disarray on the weekend of the Esperance of Tunisia, who finished top, now face final round of games after FIFA record winners Al Ahly of Egypt. suspended Sudan and its three Al Ahly will be without coach Hossam El Badry for entrants – with El Hilal El Obeid the first leg as he serves a suspension for not fulfilling later being reinstated. television-interview obligations. He walked out of a Al Hilal and Al Merrikh forfeited their final games post-match press conference when a BeIN Sports in the Champions League – although both were microphone was placed in front of him but was partly responsible for their plight as they took an persuaded to return and spoke while covering the active role in the struggle for control of the Sudan microphone of the Qatari-owned channel. He also Football Association (SFA) that led to the suspension, refused to talk directly to their reporter in what was albeit on opposite sides of a battle for power. presumably the latest diplomatic spat between Qatar The FIFA ban was a result and, among others, Egypt, CAF Champions League: quarter-finals of the Sudanese government’s Saudi Arabia and the United attempts to remove SFA Arab Emirates. Al Ahli Tripoli (Lby) v Etoile du Sahel (Tun) president Muatasim Gafer and The third Sudanese side Al Ahly (Egy) v Esperance (Tun) Ferroviario Beira (Moz) v USM Alger (Alg) came just days before Al Hilal involved, El Hilal El Obeid, Mamelodi Sundowns (SAf) v Wydad (Mor) were due to host Ferroviario had already qualified for Beira of Mozambique and Al the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederation Cup: quarter-finals Merreikh were away to Etoile Confederation Cup before Sahel, with both Sudanese the ban was put in place. So, MC Alger (Alg) v Club Africain (Tun) SuperSport Utd (SAf) v ZESCO United (Zam) clubs having a chance to although initially disqualified FUS Rabat (Mor) v CS Sfaxien (Tun) advance to the last eight. and unable to play their final El Hilal El Obeid (Sud) v TP Mazembe (DRC) The government wanted to game, when the ban was lifted replace Gafer with former Al they were reinstated in the (both competitions: first leg Sep15-17 Hilal chairman Abdel Rahman knockout stage. second leg Sep 22-24) Al Khatem, who is said to be a They now face holders TP good friend of the country’s president, Omar Al Mazembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, who Bashir. When Gafer and his allies did not pitch for needed a goal seven minutes from the end of their an election called in April, their rivals proclaimed last group game to avoid elimination. themselves duly elected and called in the police to force the old faction out of the FA’s headquarters. FIFA had previously stated that no elections should go ahead until late 2017 and armed men “storming” the SFA offices was the last straw. After sending an emissary to Khartoum to try to resolve the impasse, FIFA imposed a ban on Sudan taking part in international and continental club competitions. There was widespread anger among fans at the political shenanigans that cost the clubs their places in CAF’s Champions League and Confederation Cup tournaments, and a quick about-face followed, with Gafer, who is a pharmacist by trade, restored to his old post – but not before the country’s top two clubs said goodbye to their chances of competing in the knockout stage of the Champions League. On the pitch, the major casualty of the Champions League group phase were last year’s runners-up Zamalek, who failed to beat Al Ahli Tripoli of Libya at home and finished third in their group. Shock...Zamalek (in white) Defending champions Mamelodi Sundowns of failed to beat Al Ahli Tripoli South Africa finished second in their group and will
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after keeper Mike Maignan is sent off in a 3-0 defeat at Strasbourg. Monaco win 4-1 at Dijon but leave Kylian Mbappe on the bench, with reports claiming that the 18-yearold has agreed to join PSG. GERMANY: Hamburg lose 3-1 at third-tier Osnabruck, who have a man sent off, in the German Cup. ITALY: Juventus score twice in the last five minutes before Lazio grab an even later goal to win the Italian Super Cup 3-2. Bologna lose 3-0 at home to Serie B side Cittadella in the Italian Cup. PERU: Alianza Lima are crowned Apertura champions with a 0-0 draw at Comerciantes Unidos. SPAIN: Sub Cristiano Ronaldo comes off the bench to score but is later sent off as Real Madrid beat Barcelona 3-1 in the first leg of the Spanish Super Cup.
Monday August 14 ENGLAND: Southampton owner Katharina Liebherr sells 80 per
Late show...Lazio celebrate victory
WORLD SOCCER
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