Ismaili denied
THE NIGERIAN football team Enyimba will remain African champions. That was the verdict issued by CAF, African football's governing body, which refused to overturn its decision following an appeal by Egyptian club Ismaili.
Enyimba beat Ismaili 2-1 on aggregate in the final of the 2003 African Champions League in December last year, however, Ismaili later protested the eligibility of Ahmed Yaro Yaro of Enyimba. Ismaili had claimed that Yaro had been playing for Nigerian Kano Pillars and Enyimba at the same time.
But in a meeting at its headquarters in Cairo on Monday, a CAF committee said Yaro was legally transferred from Kano Pillars to Enyimba in January 2003. It added that the player was legally transferred in March 2004 from Enyimba to Danish club Akademisk BK following confirmation by the Danish Federation.
Having entertained high hopes of winning the case, Ismaili officials were obviously upset over the decision. Ibrahim Osman, deputy chairman of Ismaili, accused CAF of siding with the Nigerian team. "It is unfair. But we will not give in. We will take the case to FIFA and the sports arbitration court."
However, such a move is doubtful since it will cost the low-income coastal club more than 40,000 Swiss francs in addition to the arbitrator's fees.
Recommend
Comment
Printer-friendly
