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Two teams withdraw from 2010
07/09/2007 22:02 - (SA)
Johannesburg - The Central African Republic and Sao Tome e Principe have pulled out of the 2010 World Cup, precipitating a change in the first phase of the African qualifiers.
Both countries had been due to play in a first knockout
round next month.
FIFA said in a statement that it had changed the draw for the opening round of African qualifying matches in which the ten lowest ranked teams had been paired.
No details were given as to the reasons for the withdrawal
of the two countries.
Swaziland and the Seychelles have now been handed byes into the group phase.
Madagascar will play the Comoros Islands, who are making
their World Cup debut, and Sierra Leone take on Guinea Bissau in two-legged ties next month and in November.
Djibouti will meet Somalia in a single play-off match in
Djibouti on November 17. Somalia have had to forfeit home advantage because of the civil war in the country.
The winners of the three ties will join 45 other countries
in the group draw to be made in Durban on November 25.
- Reuters
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