Exclusive: CAFCL: Kenya Police lodge complaint after Al Hilal Omdurman defeat

Kenyan Premier League champions Kenya Police FC have lodged a complaint with Confederation of African Football (CAF) seeking to have Al Hilal Omdurman win against them in the CAF Champions League overturned for fielding ineligible players.

Sunday Adetunji’s two goals were enough for the Sudanese champions at the expense of the Kenyan side. Al Hilal had secured a 1-0 win in the first leg played in Nairobi before they sealed a 3-1 win in Benghazi, Libya at the Benina Martyrs Stadium for a 4-1 aggregate win.

Despite the outcome, Police have confirmed exclusively to Pan-Africa Football that they played the game in Sudan under protest, citing Al Hilal’s decision to play three ineligible players.

According to Police FC chairman Nyale Munga, the Sudanese club was not supposed to field goalkeeper Soufian Farid Ouédraogo, goalscorer Sunday Damilare Adetunji, and left-back Ernest Luzolo Nsita.

Police FC played Al Hilal under protest

Nyale has argued the aforementioned players were ineligible to play in the second preliminary round decider because they were not registered to represent them in their own league.

“We played under protest,” Nyale told Pan-Africa Football. “They fielded players, who are not registered in their home league.”

According to Regulation V(2)(c) of CAF Champions League Regulations, it provides that; ‘A player who is qualified to play in Champions League must be qualified regularly in the national championship of the country for the club engaged in CAF Champions League.’

Rule 8(1) of The Sudanese Football Association Regulations provide for Registration of only Ten Foreign Players. However, AL Hilal SC has registered 14 foreigners, who are not eligible to even feature in its own League thereby contradicting Regulation V(2)(c) of CAF Champions League Regulations.

Nairobi United remaining side for Kenya

Police’s exit left Kenya without a team in the Champions League. However, Nairobi United will participate in the group stages of the Confederation Cup following their success to eliminate Tunisian giants Etoile Sportive du Sahel in the return leg at Stade Olympique de Sousse on Sunday.

Having won the first leg 2-0 in Nairobi a fortnight ago, Etoile levelled the scores in Tunis for 2-2 with the game being decided on penalties.

United goalkeeper Kevin Oduor became the hero for the Nairobi-based side after he saved Etoile’s seventh penalty before converting the decisive kick, to hand the promoted side a ticket to their first-ever group stage appearance in the CAF competitions.

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