CAF BANS MAVUSO SPORTS CENTRE

MBABANE – Believe it or not, the national team, Sihlangu Semnikati, will play its next home AFCON Qualifier against Guinea Bissau on March 23 away from home.

This follows a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to declare the only remaining international venue in the country, Mavuso Sports Centre, not up-to required standards. In a letter dated February 27, 2021 sent to the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) Chief Executive Officer, Frederick Mngomezulu, CAF Acting General Secretary Abdelmounaim Bah, puts it categorically clear that after receiving a stadium report, photo and video evidence report about Mavuso Sports Centre, the country has to look for an alternative venue. “With reference to the CAF circular dated February 2, 2021, related to the upcoming AFCON qualifiers, we confirm the receipt of the stadium report, photo and video evidence of Mavuso Stadium. Unfortunately, based on the report, we regret to inform you that Mavuso Stadium do not meet the CAF stadium requirements and consequently will not be available for the AFCON qualifiers.”

Face

Eswatini is due to face the ‘African Wild Dogs’ of Guinea Bissau in an AFCON qualifier match five on March 23, before taking on the ‘Teranga Lions’ of Senegal in the last AFCON qualifier 2022 away in Dakar on March 30. Sihlangu lost the first leg tie against the Baciro Cande-coached outfit 3-0 on November 13, 2019 at the Estadio Nacional 24 de Setembro in Bissau. CAF has highlighted three areas as the reason for denying the country the game hosting rights.

Poor

“The pitch is in very poor condition. Overall pitch condition must be improved and the surface must be levelled, green and marked clearly in white. The current dressing rooms are not up to the required standard. The teams dressing rooms must be of high quality standard with appropriate modern seats and lockers,” part of CAF’s communiqué reads. CAF also highlighted that other facilities in the stadium are not up to the CAF standard and the stadium needed to be fully modernised brought up to the international standard requirements.

“Therefore and in light of the unavailability of other CAF approved stadiums for this type of competition in your country, a decision has been taken not to allow your FA to play the upcoming match in your territory hence you will have to select an approved stadium in countries of other CAF member associations.” CAF has requested the Eswatini Football Association (EFA) to inform them of the alternative venue latest by Wednesday (March 3, 2021). EFA Head of Marketing and Communications Officer Muzi Radebe lamented the latest decision by CAF in declaring the Mavuso Sports Ground not up-to the required standards. “The venue prohibition has been received with great distress and astonishment, considering that the match in question is only a few weeks away, with some of the elements prescribed as deficient, needing a lengthier time address, rendering it impractical to address such deficient fundamentals within the restricted time frame,” Radebe said, in a statement.

He added: “EFA is consequently, trying to collaborate, within this restricted time, with various stakeholders for the execution of the hosting of the forthcoming match, as directed by CAF. Conclusive details on the hosting of the match will be communicated within the next two weeks, once all discussions with the pertinent stakeholders have been concluded.” Eswatini joins Zimbabwe, who have also been banned by CAF from hosting its international matches until further notice because of the poor state of their stadiums. This follows an inspection undertaken by CAF in November.

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