PRETORIA, (SAT Sports) – South African football club Kaizer Chiefs has objected to the date of their rescheduled CAF Champions League match away to Moroccan side Wydad Athletic Club.
Chiefs were unable to honour the fixture initially set for February 13 after they failed to secure visas to enter Morocco due to COVID-19 related issues.
According to Chiefs, CAF, which responded on Monday, proposed that the game be played on February 19 at the Al Salam Stadium in the Egyptian capital, Cairo.
However, Chiefs argued visa challenges and travel logistics will again affect their ability to honour the fixture which is just three days away.
“Given the three days’ notice to play the match, the club will still face the similar challenges from the Egyptian Embassy because it takes a minimum of seven working days to get approval for visas that will enable us to travel to Egypt,” the club said in a statement.
“Securing flights at this late hour will also pose a challenge given that some airlines are not operational due to Covid-19 restrictions,” it added.
Kaizer Chiefs added that the congested schedule will also likely affect their second Champions League group game against Guinean side AC Horoya on February 23.
The club went on to say it had proposed the game be played at a later unspecified date in order to allow them to honour their Champions League fixtures on February 23 and March 5.
“We will communicate once CAF have reverted with a suitable date for all involved.”
Chiefs are due to play AmaZulu in the DStv Premiership on Wednesday.
