This weekend, AS Real and Djoliba AC receive their opponents for the second round of the CAF Confederation Cup and Champions League qualifiers at the Stade du 26 Mars. Another event is planned in the same stadium this Saturday. The religious group Ançardine will celebrate the Maouloud festivities there. After much controversy in Mali, a compromise was finally found between the various parties.
The Stade du 26 Mars continues to be in the news. First, 10 days ago, following a heavy rain, the lawn of the 50,000-seat stadium could not allow the continuation of the second friendly duel between Mali and Zambia, interrupted at the 17th minute. This time, it was the subject of a political decision that allowed Ançardine, a religious group, to celebrate Maouloud festivities there. Its leader, Cherif Ousmane Madani Haïdara is the president of the High Islamic Council of Mali. An influential imam with whom the Malian transition does not want to have any history. This decision has angered the Malian sports world, which believes that the 26 March stadium was built for soccer and not for the Maouloud festivities.
CAF says no
According to Sportsnewafrica, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has instructed FEMAFOOT to ask CAF to postpone the two matches. The Malian Federation, through its Secretary General, has seized the apex body of African soccer.
As expected, the said request was refused by CAF. "We would like to inform you that the draw for the 2nd additional preliminary round of the Confederation Cup 2022/23 has been scheduled for October 18, 2022. In addition, the winning team of the game AS Real Bamako vs Accra Hearts of Oak and the losing team of the game Djoliba AC vs CR Belouizdad should be known before the said draw. Moreover, we would like to inform you that such a request can only be approved in case of force majeure recognized by the Organizing Committee of CAF interclub competitions. Therefore, since it is not a case of force majeure and given that the teams qualified for the 2nd additional preliminary round must be decided before October 18, we regret to inform you that CAF can not give a favorable response to your request to postpone the matches of your clubs counting for the 2nd preliminary round of the CAF interclub competitions of the season 2022/23, "explained CAF.
Risk of suspension
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, a delegation composed of leaders of AS Real and Djoliba AC, moved to Koulouba to warn the Malian authorities of the consequences of not holding these matches for Malian soccer. The delegation, which included Kassoum Coulibaly, first vice-president of the federation, Famakan Dembélé, president of As Réal and Modibo Coulibaly, secretary general of Djoliba AC, was unable to meet with the president of the transition, but his special adviser promised to pass on the message to the head of the Malian state.
"It is only through a meeting between the different actors that an amicable solution can be found. If we have a problem, we must alert the authorities so that there is no consequence. We have been to the Ministry of Youth and Sports. We were received by the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff. We explained to them the reason for our visit. Then we went to Koulouba. We were able to meet with the President's advisor for the same reasons. Soccer is a problem of youth. As the President of the Transition himself said that if he fails it is the Malian youth who failed. Soccer is made by young people. We will respect what the authorities will decide. But our wish is that on October 8 and 9, the two matches are held at the Stade du 26 Mars," said Famakan Dembele.
If the matches are not held, it is synonymous with forfeiture. In this case, "his federation will be responsible for the financial and other consequences to be determined by the interclub commission and or the disciplinary panel. A forfeit declared after the second preliminary round will result in either the loss of the entry fee or a fine of $10,000. In addition to the above-mentioned financial consequences, any team that forfeits or renounces to play during the competition after the establishment of the calendar will be banned from participating in all CAF interclub competitions for the next two editions following the edition of its forfeit", stipulates the CAF competitions regulations.
Compromise found
An extraordinary meeting was held Thursday morning at the headquarters of the Malian Football Federation to find a solution. At the same time, the sports movement planned to organize a march this Friday to denounce the situation. At the end of the FEMAFOOT meeting, the Minister of Youth and Sports, accompanied by some sports players, went to the home of the Ançardines guide to explain the consequences of not holding the matches. Finally a compromise was found between the different actors. The two matches will be held at the 26 March stadium ... just like the Maouloud.
"You know we must always put forward the importance of having compromises whenever there are difficulties, wherever they come from. It is at the end of exchanges and discussions with all actors who conduct activities at the Stadium of March 26 that we have obtained a compromise that will allow the holding of both the matches and the Maouloud at the stadium March 26, "explained the Minister in charge of sports on the national channel.
