Zambia national team the Chipolopolo have received a big boost a head of the Cranes match with the hearing from FIFA’s decision to a ward them with three points gotten from Sudan who used an ineligible player in the world cup qualifier match which Sudan won 2-0 on June 2, in Khartoum.
The decision also deals a blow to the hopes of African giants Ghana’s Black stars to make a third successive appearance at the World Cup finals as Zambia’s Chipolopolo now occupy the top of African Group D with the maximum six points in the African qualifying stage.
The ruling by the Fifa Disciplinary committee affirmed that Sail Ali Idris was indeed ineligible to feature in the group opener which the Sudanese won 2-0 on June in Khartoum with the player in question scoring the second goal which gave them maximum dominancy over the Zambians.
The Ghanaians feel marginalised and pressured by the decision to have Zambia awarded the three points Many Chipolopolo soccer fans yesterday ran avid with celebratory and congratulatory messages when news hit round according to reports which emanated from FIFA house in Zurich, Switzerland that Zambia had been awarded the 3 points.
Reports say the team also was jubilant after the news broke out but the Zambian FA is playing down the development because it is yet to receive official correspondence from FIFA and they don’t want to agitate the hopes of their players a head of the Cranes encounter on Saturday.
The world Cup qualification campaigns resume in March 2012 but this decision now puts additional pressure on Group contenders Ghana as Zambia now lead the Group.
Ghana is second and Sudan in third place having the same points with bottom placed side Lesotho all having one point.
Ghana’s next match is against Sudan on March 22 next year at home and Zambia will be tussling it out with Lesotho.