BREAKING NEWS: CAF postpones Guinea 2022 World Cup against Morocco
BREAKING NEWS: CAF postpones Guinea 2022 World Cup against Morocco
BREAKING NEWS: CAF postpones Guinea 2022 World Cup against Morocco
Guinean police are patrolling the streets as the situation is very volatile.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has postponed Monday’s World Cup qualifier between Guinea and Morocco after the West African country was rocked by a military coup.
Morocco’s national team players who are already in the country are safe but the country’s federation has brought in a private jet to fly them out following the decision by CAF.
The match was scheduled to take place in the Guinean capital of Conakry on Monday but Africa’s football governing rescheduled the game citing the insecurity.
Match officials, who have been assigned to handle the game, have been recalled while Ghanasoccernet.com sources within Conakry say the Morocco team is preparing to leave the country.
Indeed, an attempted coup is underway in the capital where an armed group stormed the presidential palace of the Head of State, Alpha Condé who was re-elected in 2020 for a third term.
A new date will be announced later for the match but CAF says with the military taking over the government on President Alpha Conde Sunday morning it is impossible to play the game on Monday.
“The current political and security situation in Guinea is quite volatile and is being closely monitored by FIFA and CAF,” CAF said in a statement released on Sunday night.
“To ensure the safety and security of all players and to protect all match officials, FIFA and CAF have decided to postpone the FIFA World Cup 2022 qualifying match Guinea vs. Morocco, which had scheduled to be hosted in Conakry, Guinea, on Monday 6 September.
“Rescheduling information will be made available at a later date.”
Morocco’s Atlas Lions “are safe and are currently in a hotel a bit far from the zone of tension,” an official of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF), Mohamed Makrouf said.
“Moroccan officials are working to evacuate the team today. A plane is already at the airport for the operation,” he said.
There are several players from the French top flight league in both sides.
The match between Guinea and Morocco, which is supposed to be played on Monday at 6 p.m. is part of qualifying for the 2022 World Cup and will now not go ahead due to the current chaos in Conakry.
The situation is still confused on the spot but several shots were heard Sunday morning and several soldiers present in the streets.
The population is under a military curfew while awaiting a return to calm.
Source: ghanasoccernet.com
