Windhoek
The Namibia Football Association (NFA) will this morning submit a protest to the Confederation of African Footfall (CAF) over the eligibility of two Senegalese players who were in the final 18-member squad that arrived for the 2017
Afcon qualifier against Namibia, in Windhoek last Saturday. The two were apparently travelling on French passports. Prior to the kickoff, Brave Warriors skipper Stigga Ketjijere with his Senegalese counterpart Cheickou Kouyate, in the presence of the match referee, respectively signed and registered a protest with match officials relating to a dispute over the eligibility of two members of the Senegalese team, namely, Henri Saivet,
who was in the starting line-up, and substitute Issa Cissokho.
The pair arrived in Namibia on French passports – a practice that is very much against the spirit of fair play, as the rules and FIFA regulations clearly stipulate that players representing their motherland should be in possession
of valid passports of their country of origin.
A statement from the NFA says all procedures have been followed in the matter and the association now awaits feedback from CAF. The said regulations are Chapter 16 – Qualifcation of Players, Article 38; and Chapter 18 – Protests and Rights, Article 43.