CAIRO, Egypt, Aug – Rwanda have been disqualified from taking part in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations group A qualifiers after fielding an ineligible player against Congo who replaced them.
The organizing committee of the Morocco showpiece on Sunday reached on the decision following a protest made by the Congolese Football Federation (FECOFOOT) during the first leg match of the second round of qualifying played against Rwanda July 20 in Pointe-Noire.
The protest by Congo contested the eligibility of the player, Birori Dady aligned with Rwanda, and plays for the AS Vita Club of Kinshasa with Congolese (DRC) passport as Etekiama Agiti Tady, and a different age.
Following investigations by CAF and on the basis of documents provided by the federations of Rwanda, Congo and DR Congo, and hearing the player’s testimony August 11 at CAF headquarters in Cairo, the continental body established that the two identities only referred to a single person.
While the Rwandan Football Federation (FERWAFA) maintained to their knowledge Birori had one identity, investigations revealed that he was summoned as Etekiama Agiti Tady by FERWAFA to join the national team of Rwanda.
Based on these and other findings, the Organising Committee of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in accordance with Article 41 of the regulations of the Nations Cup, and Articles 82 and 83.1 of CAF Disciplinary Code, decided as follows:
1. Immediately suspend the player Etekiama Agiti Tady / Birori Dady until further notice and ban him from playing for club and the national team
2. Rwanda declared losers of match No.37 against Congo, and consequently being eliminated from the competition
3. Consign Congo to the group phase of the qualifiers of the Nations Cup in Group A, as replacement for Rwanda
4. Reserved the right to confirm the exact length of the player’s suspension and to impose additional sanctions if necessary at the next meeting of the Organising Committee, scheduled for September 17.
5. Urged players and stakeholders to regulate the situation of dual identity.
The decision of the Committee takes effect immediately and with option for appeal in accordance with the regulatory provisions in force in CAF Disciplinary Code.
Congo now joins defending champions Nigeria, South Africa and Sudan in group A.
– By CAF
