Zesco keep walkover win despite FIFA ruling on Obied

22nd July 2017

Goal Diggers

FILE: Zesco United celebrate after the game against City of Lusaka at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka. Zesco won 1-0 Picture By Tenson Mkhala

Goal Diggers

FILE: Zesco United celebrate after the game against City of Lusaka at Woodlands Stadium in Lusaka. Zesco won 1-0 Picture By Tenson Mkhala

Zesco United keep their 2017 CAF Confederation Cup quarterfinal place despite Sudanese Club Al Hilal Obied reinstatement in the last eight of the competition.

Obied were disqualified after Sudan was banned from all FIFA activities on July 6 on the day the Sudanese club arrived in Zambia for their final CAF Confederation Cup Group C match against Zesco.

This saw Zesco handed a walkover win after the cancellation of their July 9 fixture in Ndola

CRD Libolo of Angola were later handed Obeid quarterfinal slot against TP Mazembe.

“The Committee noted the lifting of the suspension of Sudan by FIFA and indicated that the Sudanese clubs engaged in the Total CAF Champions League and Total CAF Confederation Cup are not disqualified, but in accordance with the regulations, are declared losers of the Day Six matches of the group stage,” CAF stated in a communique.

The status sees Zesco still finishing top of Group C on 10 points, tied with Obeid who are second on goal difference.

Libolo are third on 7 points.

“As a result, Sudanese club, Hilal El Obeid is qualified for the quarterfinals of the Total CAF Confederation Cup.”

Zesco visit SuperSport United of South Africa in the first leg of their quarterfinals on September 8 in Pretoria while Obeid hosts Mazembe that same weekend.