The
Gambia CHAN team will no longer get a place in the second round of the 2018
Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifiers after World’s football governing
body FIFA lifted ban on impose Mali.
The
home-Scorpions hope to progress to the second round of the qualifiers after
their opponents Mali were suspended by FIFA due to government’s interference in
sport but were reinstated by FIFA at the weekend.
Mali
were banned from all football-related activities in the continent and global
level after the country’s Sports Minister Hussein Aimon Giundo dissolved Mali Football
Association.
The
continent’s football governing body - Confederation of African Football (CAF) -
confirmed that it had received a letter from FIFA dated 28 April 2017, signed
by General Secretary Fatoumatta Samura, stating that the world’s football
governing had lifted the ban imposed on Mali after the country’s Sports
Minister Husseini Aimon Giundo reinstated Mali Football Association.
Mali
are now clear to participate in the upcoming competitions in the continent and
globe at large after their suspension was lifted by FIFA due to government’s
interference in sport.
The
home-based Scorpions are set to host Mali in the first leg of the 2018 Africa
Nations Championship qualifiers in July 2017 in Banjul before the second leg in
Bamako, a week later.
The
winner between The Gambia and Mali double-legged clashes will play either
Mauritania or Liberia in the final round of the qualifiers for a place in the
2018 Africa Nations Championship to be hosted in Kenya.
