Back and Next - Back and NextWafu Cup extended
Thursday, December 4, 2008
The end date of the ongoing WAFU U-20 Championship in Nigeria has been extended by one day. The sub-regional football tournament commenced on Friday, November 28, and was scheduled to end on Tuesday, December 9.
However, the organisers have decided to extend the final game by a day to Wednesday December, 10. The date extension resulted from the non-completion of Saturday's line-up of matches in Group B between the Gambia and Guinea in Ogwashi-Uku, and the Group C game in Ughelli.
Both games were abandoned due to poor visibility caused by the failure of the flood-lights and had to be replayed the following day. The two replays meant Monday’s fixtures involving all four teams were no longer possible as Sunday had been meant to be a rest day for all the sides taking part in the tournament.
The chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the youth event, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, insists the decision to postpone was a wise decision especially considering the fact that the affected teams couldn’t have been allowed to play back-to-back games in the first place.
He however, also pointed out the extra cost implications of the extension.
Ikpeme went on to implore all the teams and other stakeholders to bear the inconveniences the extension may cause.
"We are quite sorry things had to go this way, but it's a good decision for the affected teams, it would not have been fair to allow them to play back-to-back games... the one-day extension will allow them rest now as was scheduled in the original fixtures but the extra costs are still there for us to bear," he noted.
The December 10 final will be graced by scores of football dignitaries including the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Mr Issa Hayatou.
However, the organisers have decided to extend the final game by a day to Wednesday December, 10. The date extension resulted from the non-completion of Saturday's line-up of matches in Group B between the Gambia and Guinea in Ogwashi-Uku, and the Group C game in Ughelli.
Both games were abandoned due to poor visibility caused by the failure of the flood-lights and had to be replayed the following day. The two replays meant Monday’s fixtures involving all four teams were no longer possible as Sunday had been meant to be a rest day for all the sides taking part in the tournament.
The chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the youth event, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, insists the decision to postpone was a wise decision especially considering the fact that the affected teams couldn’t have been allowed to play back-to-back games in the first place.
He however, also pointed out the extra cost implications of the extension.
Ikpeme went on to implore all the teams and other stakeholders to bear the inconveniences the extension may cause.
"We are quite sorry things had to go this way, but it's a good decision for the affected teams, it would not have been fair to allow them to play back-to-back games... the one-day extension will allow them rest now as was scheduled in the original fixtures but the extra costs are still there for us to bear," he noted.
The December 10 final will be graced by scores of football dignitaries including the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Mr Issa Hayatou.
Author: by Nanama Keita in Delta State, Nigeria
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