Balaraja blog

Conflict forces Libya to play in Mali

An Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Libya and Comoros Islands this Sunday has been moved from Tripoli to Malian capital Bamako because of conflict in the North Africa country.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) also confirmed that post-election unrest in Abidjan has led to the Ivory Coast-Benin tie on Saturday being switched to Ghana.

Ivory Coast have also transferred a 2012 Olympic Games qualifier against Liberia to Accra and the fixture will be the first half of a double-header at the national stadium.

South African are due to host Libya Sunday at Daveyton near Johannesburg in another Olympics fixture, but officials say repeated calls to the football federation in Tripoli have gone unanswered.

Libya lead an Cup of Nations group with four points from two outings after satisfactory results against the main challengers, forcing a 0-0 draw in Mozambique and defeating 2010 quarter-finalists Zambia 1-0 at home.

Ivory Coast are even better placed with a maximum six points in another pool thanks to a 3-0 home win over Rwanda and a 1-0 away victory against Burundi. Second-place Benin have four points.

Ivorian and Libyan clubs have also been hit with home legs in the two CAF club competitions cancelled and ties reduced to a single match at the ground of their opponents.