Mamelodi Sundowns Banned From Travelling To Algeria!

Mamelodi Sundowns Banned From Travelling To Algeria! The Brazilians were meant to play Algerian side CR Belouizdad in the CAF Champions League next week.

This fixture will have to be rescheduled for another day as Algeria imposed further Covid-19 restrictions. This means that the 23^rd of February fixture will go ahead as proposed.

Mamelodi Sundowns expressed disappointment in the manner of which this was communicated to the club. They will have further discussions with CAF today at 12h00.

“Mamelodi Sundowns had made all the necessary arrangements and acquired visas which were made available by the Algerian Embassy last week Friday (12 February 2021).

“By the time of receiving the communication from CAF earlier today, Mamelodi Sundowns was about to travel to the OR Tambo International Airport to catch a flight that would take them to Doha for a connecting flight to Algeria.

“CAF’s competitions division has advised that “The case will be submitted to CAF Organizing Committee for Inter-Club Competitions to take the necessary decision, which will be communicated to all concerned parties in due time”.

“Mamelodi Sundowns is disappointed with the timing of the communication and the way that this situation has unfolded today” the statement went on to say.

Kaizer Chiefs are currently embroiled in a similar case with CAF. Their match against Wydad Casablanca of Morocco had to be postponed due to similar reasons.

Covid restrictions in the north of Africa have heightened in recent times. Especially as South Africa has been put on the banned list.

So now Sundowns and Chiefs will both have to wait for new dates to play their matches. Africa has not adopted the methods that Europe has.

In cases like these, UEFA has opted to play in neutral or alternative countries so that matches go through. That’s possibly what Africa needs to do.

Mamelodi Sundowns Banned From Travelling To Algeria!