ALREADY on a tightrope of uncertainty, Bafana Bafana's tottering hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup in Brazil have just got worse as a result of decisive, far-reaching decisions taken by Fifa.
World soccer's controlling body yesterday revealed that the crucial qualifying game between the Central African Republic and Ethiopia on September 7 has been switched from CAR's impregnable home fortress in Bangui to the neutral venue of Brazzaville in the Congo Republic.
The change in venue is a major boost for Ethiopia, who will ensure qualification for the final stage of African World Cup qualifying by beating CAR. That would prove a death knell for Bafana's prospects - no matter what the result in their final group qualifying game against Botswana in Durban.
Both matches will be played simultaneously.
Fifa ascribed what could well emerge as a heartbreak decision for Bafana to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the political unrest in the volatile CAR - a decision that was also taken when Bafana were due to play CAR away in Bangui.
Fifa moved the game to neutral Yaounde in Cameroon and Bafana won that match 3-0 instead of confronting CAR in Bangui where they have not been beaten in years.
Blow to SA's 2014 hopes
ALREADY on a tightrope of uncertainty, Bafana Bafana's tottering hopes of qualifying for next year's World Cup in Brazil have just got worse as a result of decisive, far-reaching decisions taken by Fifa.
World soccer's controlling body yesterday revealed that the crucial qualifying game between the Central African Republic and Ethiopia on September 7 has been switched from CAR's impregnable home fortress in Bangui to the neutral venue of Brazzaville in the Congo Republic.
The change in venue is a major boost for Ethiopia, who will ensure qualification for the final stage of African World Cup qualifying by beating CAR. That would prove a death knell for Bafana's prospects - no matter what the result in their final group qualifying game against Botswana in Durban.
Both matches will be played simultaneously.
Fifa ascribed what could well emerge as a heartbreak decision for Bafana to the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the political unrest in the volatile CAR - a decision that was also taken when Bafana were due to play CAR away in Bangui.
Fifa moved the game to neutral Yaounde in Cameroon and Bafana won that match 3-0 instead of confronting CAR in Bangui where they have not been beaten in years.
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