CAFCC: CAF Postpones Rivers United, Bloemfontein Celtic Tie

The Confederation Cup tie between Rivers United and South African side Bloemfontein Celtic has been cancelled, the Confederation of African Football announced on Tuesday.

The second leg, first round tie had been scheduled for Wednesday (today) in Port Harcourt.

“The Nigeria Football Federation last night stated that the South African delegation cannot  be exempted from the required quarantine: the match shall not take place as scheduled, Wednesday, January 6, 2021,” CAF wrote.

“The case will be submitted to the competent body within CAF to decide on the appropriate course of action to follow. And decision shall be communicated in due time.”

The NFF had in a letter to CAF on Monday, asked that the game be rescheduled and if possible, played in a neighbouring country.

The NFF’s request came after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control declined to offer waivers to the Bloemfontein Celtic contingent that would have exempted the South Africans from observing local Covid-19 protocols including quarantining for a week.

Rivers United hold a 2-0 lead from the first leg and would progress to the next round if they avoid defeat in the second leg.