The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) was on Sunday, 27 March 2016 informed by the Chadian Football Federation of the withdrawal of its national team from the ongoing qualifiers of the 31st edition of the Africa Cup of Nations, Gabon 2017.
In conformity with Article 61 of the regulations of the competition which states: “If a team withdraws from the qualifying phase organised in groups, all its results shall be annulled (points, scored and conceded goals)”.
Consequently, the three matches of Chad of Group G are cancelled and the results will not be taken into consideration. Hence, the actual standings of the group will be as follows:
Accordingly, following the decision of CAF Executive Committee dated 15 January 2015, any group reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of a team will have only the group winner qualifying for the final tournament.
Furthermore, the Chadian Football Federation has been fined 20,000 US Dollars and also barred from participating in the next edition of the AFCON in conformity with Article 59 of the regulations of the Competition which states “any association declaring forfeit after the start of the matches is liable to a fine of twenty thousand (20,000) U.S. dollars. It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition of the AFCON”.
Meanwhile, Egypt will face Nigeria on Tuesday, 29 March 2016 in Alexandria.
