Kenya’s AFC Leopards May Miss Out Of The Confederation Cup

The club had sent a team list of 24 players, but after the elections they held in December the new team also submitted a new list of 22 players to CAF.

Days before the preliminary Confederation Cup round kicks off, the continental football governing body has refused to accept the new list, saying it was too late to verify the players.

But the club is in a quandary because only eight players in the initial list are currently registered with the club as others were kicked out of the new-look AFC Leopards.

CAF's competitions officer Abla Khalad wrote to FKL (Kenya Football Limited) on Sunday to stipulate CAF rules.

"We regret to inform you that your new list contains 22 players registered after January 15 and hence are not qualified to play in the Confederation Cup according to the competition's regulations," Khalad informed them.

Speaking to Daily Nation, FKL acting secretary Mohammmed Thabit said he has informed AFC officials about CAF’s communique.

"I told them [AFC Leopards] to give me the new list before the January 15 deadline but that did not happen. They later gave me a list which was forwarded to CAF on January 25," Thabit said.

"AFC Leopards should swallow their pride and call the other players who were in AFC Leopards to return so that they make a team to play. It will be a shame if they withdraw. What will they tell their fans?"

Leopards are scheduled to play Banks of Ethiopia on Sunday in Nairobi in a preliminary round first leg tie. The Ethiopians are expected to arrive in Kenya today.

The club now face the inevitable prospect of withdrawing from the tournament and attracting a mandatory fine and ban from CAF.