Chad exit a blow to Taifa Stars

CHAD has withdrawn from the ongoing Afcon 2017 qualifiers citing financial constraints ahead of their return leg match against Taifa Stars on Monday.

The withdrawal of Chad was also officially confirmed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and later released in by Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) in its website.

The withdrawal was a big blow to Taifa Stars as they have to seek the remaining 6 points away in Nigeria and at home against tough Egyptian Pharaohs, the task which soccer pundits claim to be very close to impossible.

The withdraw also makes it impossible to claim one of the two best losers ticket. Chad who were winless and pointless ahead of today’s match, have left Group G with three teams, leaders Egypt, Nigeria and Tanzania.

The Central Africans lost 0-1 to the Taifa Stars on Wednesday as the latter registered her first win in the qualification for Africa’s biggest football showpiece.

A statement written by the Chad Football Association secretary general, Moctar Mahamoud, on Sunday read, “As part of our participation in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers for Gabon 2017 and particularly the return match against Tanzania, we bring to your attention that our national team has failed to make it to the return leg game in Dar es Salaam scheduled for March 28.”

“Indeed, our country has been affected by the global economic conditions and because of this, our participation in various competitions has taken a serious blow due to financial constraints.”

“We wish you all the best and we apologise for this situation which is basically independent of our will.” Chad were sitting at the bottom of Group G with no point from three losses to Egypt, Nigeria and Tanzania.

These results will therefore be nullified according to Caf rules and regulations. That leaves table leaders Egypt with four points, ahead of Nigeria in second with two and Tanzania with one.

Egypt and Nigeria face off in a highly billed fixture in Alexandria on March 29. That leaves 50 countries tussling it out for the 15 available slots to join hosts Gabon with the table leaders in all the 13 groups set to qualify automatically.

Two best second-placed teams from 12 groups except Group I that has hosts Gabon will be considered. Earlier responding to the withdrawal statement, The President of Tanzania Football Federation(TFF), Jamal Malinzi, said he was disappointed with the move as it deeply affects Tanzania.

Malinzi added that he was shocked to a country failing to honour such an important event like African Champions on financial constraints. However, Malinzi said Tanzania cannot trust the statement from Chadian soccer authority as it should be the event’s organizers who have an authority to officially inform the country.

In Nigeria, Chad’s withdrawal was called a big a blow to the country’s hopes of qualifying. Nigerian media said the withdrawal means only the overall group winner will qualify for Gabon 2017 as groups with only three teams cannot produce second best qualifiers.

Chad are bottom of Group G with no points having lost their matches against Nigeria, Egypt and Tanzania. Besides the trip to Tanzania, they are also due to host Nigeria in June before a final group game against Egypt.