BFA awaits CAF verdict over travel ban
Mqondisi Dube | Friday March 13, 2020 12:45
The Botswana National Sport Commission (BNSC), this week directed all national team assignments to be halted until further notice, as concerns rise over the rapidly spreading novel coronavirus.
The immediate casualty was the girls’ Under-17 side’s trip to Morocco for the second leg of a World Cup qualifier.
The girls were supposed to fly out on Wednesday, but were left disappointed after the last minute cancellation.
The deadly coronavirus has aggressively spread across the globe, claiming hundreds of lives since it was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan last December.
The disease reached closer to Botswana this week when close to 20 cases were recorded in neighbouring South Africa, amid growing concerns.
The BSNC responded by issuing a directive that no national team would take part in international competitions, until the situation improves.
Football has been hard hit as the women’s Under-17, 20, senior and the Zebras are all affected. The senior team was due to play Namibia in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier, while the Under-20 are scheduled to play in the COSAFA Cup in Mauritius next month.
The Zebras are pencilled in for back-to-back Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Zambia at the end of the month.
But as it stands, the teams would not take part. BFA chief executive officer, Mfolo Mfolo said they had written to CAF regarding their decision not to fulfill, particularly the Under-17 match against Morocco. The local girls were trailing 1-0 from the first leg in Gaborone. “Yes, we have acted in accordance. We are still waiting for a response,” Mfolo said yesterday when asked if they had written to CAF. Indications are that CAF would require clarity on the matter, whether Botswana is withdrawing or seeking a postponement.
CAF has already issued a separate statement, saying all scheduled matches should go ahead as the continent is not considered a high-risk for the virus.
It is unclear what sanction, if any, Botswana would face, but FIFA has already rescheduled a meeting in Addis Ababa today over the coronavirus fears.
Mfolo said he was still waiting for the BFA executive committee to make a determination on the consequences of opting out of international competitions.
He would not say if the local league would be suspended, but indicated that the association would monitor the situation.