Chad has withdrawn from the ongoing Afcon 2017 qualifiers citing financial constraints ahead of their return leg match against Tanzania that was scheduled for March 28 in Dar es Salaam.
The Central Africans lost to the Taifa Stars on Wednesday as the latter registered her first win in the qualification for Africa’s biggest football showpiece.
A statement written by the Chad Football Association secretary general Moctar Mahamoud on Sunday read, “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.”
“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.”
Chad were sitting at the bottom of Group G with no point from three losses to Egypt, Nigeria and Tanzania. These results will therefore be nullified according to Caf rules and regulations.
That leaves table leaders Egypt with four points, ahead of Nigeria in second with two and Tanzania with one. Egypt and Nigeria face off in a highly billed fixture in Alexandria on March 29.
That leaves 50 countries tussling it out for the 15 available slots to join hosts Gabon with the table leaders in all the 13 groups set to qualify automatically.
Two best second-placed teams from 12 groups except Group I that has hosts Gabon will be considered.
