The Confederations of Africa Football (CAF) Champions League second-leg clash between Liberia’s Barrack Young Controllers (BYC) and Gambia Real de Banjul is in doubt after the Malian government turned down the Liberian Football Association's request to host BYC.
Mali’s capital, Bamako was chosen as the proposed neutral ground for BYC for the return leg after CAF banned the Liberian side from playing in Monrovia due to Ebola fears.
The Malian government’s refusal came after both Ghana and Ivory Coast - Liberia’s next door neighbors all refused to host the match.
It was reported earlier that the Liberian Football Association had written to their Malian counterparts who are reported to have agreed before government's disapproval. News of the cancellation comes just after Real De Banjul began its journey for the second-leg and has since voiced its disappointment over the matters.
Mali’s capital, Bamako was chosen as the proposed neutral ground for BYC for the return leg after CAF banned the Liberian side from playing in Monrovia due to Ebola fears.
The Malian government’s refusal came after both Ghana and Ivory Coast - Liberia’s next door neighbors all refused to host the match.
It was reported earlier that the Liberian Football Association had written to their Malian counterparts who are reported to have agreed before government's disapproval. News of the cancellation comes just after Real De Banjul began its journey for the second-leg and has since voiced its disappointment over the matters.
The Gambia Football Federation announced the cancellation saying: “The Gambia Football Federation (GFF) regrets to announce that its representatives in the CAF Champions League preliminary qualifiers Real De Banjul FC will no longer travel to Bamako for the fixture against BYC in the second leg of the CAF Champions League Qualifying series. This development was communicated by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) that match Number 40: Barrack Young Controllers (Liberia) VS Real De Banjul (Gambia) will no longer take place in Bamako, Mali due to the refusal of Mali to host the said match. CAF has therefore called off the Bamako venue and is still awaiting the decision from the Liberia Football Association regarding the de-localization of the said match before the schedule date.
The GFF joins Real De Banjul FC to express regret for any inconvenience this change of plan might have caused. The matter is now left for CAF to decide.
The GFF joins Real De Banjul FC to express regret for any inconvenience this change of plan might have caused. The matter is now left for CAF to decide.
By: Sahr Morris Jr.
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