Ghana 2018: Caf makes u-turn, drops Kenya for Equatorial Guinea
The Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) on Wednesday reinstated Equatorial Guinea to participate in the 2018 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations after an earlier ban.
CAF had disqualified the two-time champions following a protest from Kenya for fielding an ineligible player.
The latest development comes 24 hours after the Kenyan federation threatened to pull out the Starlets from the tournament due to lack of funds.
The statement from Caf confirmed, “On November 7, 2018, the Appeal Board of Confédération Africaine de Football held a meeting in order to decide on the appeal of the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol of the decision of the Disciplinary Council of September 8, 2018.
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“Regarding the eligibility protest against player Annette Jacky Messomo durong the match no. 30 Equatorial Guinea vs Kenya played in the frame of the Total African Women’s Cup of Nations 2018, the Appeal Board decided as follows:
1. The appeal lodged by the Federación Ecuatoguineana de Fútbol is admissible;
2. The decision no 001-CAI-08.09.2018 is overruled;
3. The player Annette Jacky Messomo is eligible to play for the National Team of Equatorial Guinea;
4. The National Team of Equatorial Guinea is reintegrated in the Total African Women’s Cup of Nations 2018.”
Kenya had appealed against the inclusion of Annette Jacky Messomo in the squad that eliminated the Starlets, and on September 8, the Caf Disciplinary Council ruled in favour of the East African nation.
They will now face Nigeria in Group B in one of the group matches.