CAF Reinstate Equatorial Guinea In AWCON Championship

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), has reinstated Equatorial Guinea into the upcoming African Women Championship (AWCON) 2018, after they won an appeal for fielding an unqualified player against Kenya.

The decision from the board of appeals of CAF means that Kenya, who filed and won a protest over the eligibility of Equatorial Guinea’s player Annette Jacky Messomo, would forfeit their ticket for 11th biennial championship slated for Ghana from 17th November to 1st December, 2018.

A statement from CAF confirming Equatorial Guinea said “the appeals board of CAF held a meeting in other to decide on the appeal of the federation of Equatorial Guinea football association of the decision of the disciplinary council of September 8, 2018.

“Regarding the eligibility protest against player Annette Jacky Messomo during the match no. 30 Equatorial Guinea vs. Kenya played in the frame of the Total African Women’s Cup of Nations 2018, the Appeal Board decided as follows :

1. The appeal lodged by the Federation of Equatorial Football Association is admissible;
2. The decision number 001-CAI-08.09.2018 is overruled;
3. The player Annette Jacky Messomo is eligible to play for the National Team of Equatorial Guinea;
4. The National Team of Equatorial Guinea is reintegrated in the Total African Women's Cup of Nations 2018”.

With this decision and barely ten days to the tournament, Equatorial Guinea would replace Kenya in group b alongside Nigeria, South Africa and Zambia, who would be based in Cape Coast.