Super Eagles Group G rivals, Chad, have withdrawn from the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The West Africans who have failed to pick a single point thus far in the group cited financial constraints as their reason.
A statement written by the Chad Football Association Secretary General, Moctar Mahamoud, on Sunday reads: “As part of our participation in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers for Gabon 2017 and particularly the return match against Tanzania, we bring to your attention that our national team has failed to make it to the return leg game in Dar el Salaam scheduled for March 28.
“Indeed, our country has been affected by the global economic conditions and because of this, our participation in various competitions has taken a serious blow due to financial constraints.
“We wish you all the best and we apologise for this situation which is basically independent of our will.”
What this means is that Nigeria’s hopes of making it to Gabon 2017 has become more complicated.
In accordance with qualifying rules, all points gained from matches involving Chad will now be discarded, leaving Nigeria two points adrift of Egypt with only two matches – including a must-not-lose trip to Alexandria on Tuesday – to turn things around.
“If a team withdraws from the qualifying phase organised in groups, all its results shall be annulled (points, scored and conceded goals),” a statement from the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) said on Sunday.
“Hence, the matches of Chad of the first three days of Group G matches are cancelled and their results will not be taken into consideration.
“Accordingly, following the decision of CAF Executive Committee dated January 15th 2015:
“Any group reduced to three teams following a team withdrawal will only qualify the first team of that group.
“Furthermore, in conformity to article 59 of the regulations of the competition: The Chadian Football Association is suspended for the upcoming edition of the AFCON and must pay the monetary fine of $20000 Dollars.”
Nigeria, which failed to reach the 2015 tournament having lifted the trophy in 2013, had been in the running to qualify as one of two best runners-up, but CAF confirmed that only the top-placed team will now be eligible to qualify from Group G.
