CAF Suspends Gabon, Djibouti From 2020 CHAN

Africa’s football governing body CAF have banned Gabon and Djibouti from taking part in the qualifying match for the 2020 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The African football apex body, took the decision at a meeting on Wednesday in Morocco, who are hosting the 2018 CHAN, ahead of the draw for the tournament on 17 November.

The decision by CAF to suspend the two countries comes after both nations withdrew from the 2018 qualifiers despite already starting.

CAF cited Article 59 of its laws to justify its decision, which states that, “Any association declaring forfeit after the start of the matches is liable to a fine of ten thousand (10,000) US dollars. It will also not be allowed to participate in the next edition of the CHAN.”

The statement added: “Few days prior to their qualifier against Equatorial Guinea, specifically 5 August 2017, the Gabon Football Federation sent a letter of withdrawal from the competition.

“On the other hand, the Djibouti Football Federation also communicated its withdrawal on 17 July 2017.

“For withdrawing after playing in the first leg of the qualifiers against Ethiopia, there is a further sanction for Djibouti in accordance with Article 62 of the regulation which states that: Any team that withdraws or refuses to play the return match after having played the first leg on its own territory must refund the association of the visiting team a minimum sum of ten thousand (10,000) US dollars in repair for the damage suffered by the host country.’’