CAF quashes Tanzania's threat

From William Ezah, GNA Special Correspondent, Banjul, Gambia

Banjul, May 7, GNA - The threat by Tanzania to storm Gambia to participate in the Sixth Africa Under-17 Tournament despite their disqualification from the tournament, has been quashed by the Confederations of Africa Football (CAF).

This was after the Court of Arbitration of Sports (CAS) confirmed the decision of the CAF Organising Committee and the CAF Appeal Board to disqualify the Tanzanians from the tournament for fielding an unqualified player.

The Tanzanians were disqualified by CAF after a player, whose age on his club license for the 2004 season was 21 years but had 16 years on his license in the 2005 season.

The Tanzanians who were dissatisfied with the ruling appeal against it and vowed to travel to Gambia to participate in the tournament, which is scheduled to commence on May 7.

The ruling has therefore, put the Tanzanians, who were replaced by Zimbabwe, on ice as they will not be able to carry out their threat. Mr Wiliam Carr, a member of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) described the threat as an empty when the GNA Sports got it touch with him.

He said the Tanzanians could still not have participated in the tourney even without the latest ruling by CAF. Host nation Gambia, is to open the tournament with a match against Burkina Faso, whilst Ghana takes on Mali. Both matches are scheduled for the Independence Stadium at 17:00 hrs and 19:30 respectively.