CAFCC: Rivers United Vs Bloemfontein Celtics Rescheduled By CAF

Ugo Chinedu

4 years ago

Following the postponement of the CAF Confederations Cup last 32 second-leg tie between Rivers United and Bloemfontein of South Africa due to strict COVID-19 protocols which meant the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) could not obtain a waiver for the South African side, African football ruling body, CAF, has rescheduled the game to the weekend of January 22-24, 2021. CAF’s decision comes after the South Africa Football Association (SAFA) reached out, after appeals to the Nigeria Football Federation and the government failed to yield result.

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South Africa is considered as high-risk COVID-19 country and protocols in Nigeria mean a waiver must be obtained for South African travellers to Nigeria, else they spend a mandatory seven-day quarantine period. The game which was originally scheduled to hold in Port Harcourt on January 6, 2021, will now be held in a neighbouring country to Nigeria that has more lenient COVID-19 protocols on South African travellers.

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See the resolutions of the CAF Committee below:

The match will be rescheduled for the weekend of the 22-24 January 2021 and it will be played in a neighbouring country to Nigeria with more lenient COVID-19 protocols regarding travellers coming from South Africa.
The Nigerian Football Federation to decide and communicate the venue, date, kick-off-time and the approval of the neutral host association by 12 January 2021 at the latest.
The designation of the match officials is maintained.
Rivers United FC to take charge of all organizational expenses in the neutral country as the host club and to ensure that the visiting team has the approval for entry in the neutral country.
The additional player registration period starts on the 10th of January 2021, the two teams shall not be allowed to field any of the players registered during this period for this match.

Rivers United go into the clash as favourites after a vital 2-0 win in the first-leg in South Africa. Source AllAfrica BBC Featured Image Source: Premium Times NG

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