Zanzibar axed from CECAFA for misconduct

Wednesday Apr 18, 2018. 10:29

Information coming through to AfricanFootball.com is that Zanzibar have been expelled from the U17 CECAFA tournament.

The Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA) has found Zanzibar guilty of using ineligible players in the ongoing tournament in Burundi.

"Zanzibar presented nine players over the age limit for their intended opening Group B match against Sudan on Sunday," Rogers Mulindwa, the CECAFA media officer confirmed.

"The match was not played and the organising committee found that only 12 players in total were born before 2002 as required by the rules," he added

Resulting from their misconduct, the Zanzibar U17 side has since been sent back home and slapped with a fine of US$15,000 - the approximate cost of air tickets, accommodation and meals during their stay in Burundi.

"This money will be refunded to FIFA who are the official sponsors of the tournament," said Mulindwa.

Moreover, Ethiopia's U-17 team that beat Somalia 3-1 in a match played on Sunday was also fined US$5,000 for using three ineligible players and forfeits the match on a 3-0 loss.

However, the committee decided to keep the three Ethiopian players in the youth Championship.

Staged for the first time since 2009, the regional tournament kicked off on Saturday with Kenya humbling hosts Burundi 4-0 before Uganda and Tanzania drew 1-1 on Sunday