Chronicle Editor
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
CAF has left leeway for spectators to attend the Africa Cup of Nations qualifier fixtures to governments although the continental body will have the final say.
In a raft of guidelines released yesterday, Caf spelt out specific measures that will apply in relation to the hosting of the qualifiers that run between 9 and 17 November including allowing governments to seek permission from the body to allow spectators into games.
Zimbabwe face Algeria in a return leg at the National Sports Stadium on 16 November but Zifa have already indicated that fans will not be allowed into the stadium.
In a Press release, Caf said according to their Covid-19 protocol, all matches must be played behind closed doors, without spectators, however, if the government of the host Association wants spectators to be present, then the Association in question will need to obtain Caf approval.
Caf said the rules issued by the Organising Committee for the African Cup of Nations qualifiers are in accordance with the Fifa rules of the game and relate in particular to the conditions for holding matches, the number of authorised substitutions and the conditions for postponement or cancellation of matches.
Among other guidelines released by Caf, each match must be played if both teams have at least 11 players (including a goalkeeper) and four substitutes and if a team fails to fulfil this obligation, it will be considered to have lost the match 2-0.
If a team cannot travel to the host country and/or venue of the match due to any travel or other restriction relating to Covid-19, the team in question will be considered to have lost the match 2-0.
Temba Dube