The Secretary General of Chad Football Association, Moctar Mahamoud, give the news after Chad suffered a 1-0 defeat to Tanzania at home on Wednesday, 23/03/2016
“As part of our participation in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers for Gabon 2017 and particularly the return match against Tanzania, we bring to your attention that our national team has failed to make it to the return leg game in Dar el Salaam scheduled for March 28,”
Further adding “Indeed, our country has been affected by the global economic conditions and because of this, our participation in various competitions has taken a serious blow due to financial constraints.”
“We wish you all the best and we apologise for this situation which is basically independent of our will.”
Accordingly, following the decision of CAF Executive Committee dated 15th January 2015, any group reduced to three teams following the withdrawal of a team will have only the group winner qualifying for the final tournament.
This means that a draw or defeat in the hands of the Pharaohs of Egypt on Tuesday [today] will ensure the Super Eagles exit from the tournament with only the group leader proceeding to Gabon next year.
Chad withdrawal means that all points picked up against them are nullified. Nigeria MUST now win Group G to qualify for Gabon 2017, as second best placed team can't emerge from a 3team group, only the group winner qualifies.
With this, Egypt now has 4points..... Nigeria 2points..... and Tanzania 1point.
With Nigerian goalkeeper Carl Ikeme ruled out with stomach bug (another blow), Super Eagles new captain John Mikel Obi, assured Nigerians on NFF website that the team is going to give their 100% to fight for a ticket in Gabon.
“We have to face reality, and everyone has to give more than 100 per cent because we just have to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations. We have to go to Alexandria and fight with everything we have.”
The match is scheduled to take place at Borg El-Arab Stadium in Alexandria, 19:00 GMT +1. Tuesday 29th March, 2016.
