African Football League Draw Held Under Petro Cloud
The African Football League was held in Cairo under a suspension cloud for one of the participating clubs, Petro De Luanda. News came in from Angola that Petro de Luanda was allegedly involved in a match-fixing scandal in the Angola Cup just hours before the Africa Football League was due to start.
CAF decided to go ahead with the draw, including the Angola league champions, which might suggest that there were conversations between officials in Cairo and Luanda on the issue. The Angola FA is reportedly in possession of damning evidence against Petro de Luanda, including voice notes implicating the club’s officials.
A two-year ban from all football activities hangs over Petro de Luanda, and if it is effected then the club cannot participate in the African Football League. CAF would have to go against the ruling of one of its Member Association to let Petro de Luanda participate in the tournament which is scheduled to start on the 20th of October.
The draw itself produced a David versus Goliath match-up with the mighty Al Ahly of Egypt set to lock horns with Tanzania’s Simba SC. It will be a meeting of former continental giants when Esperance de Tunis clashes with DR Congo’s TP Mazembe. Enyimba FC, still smarting from an early Champions League exit, will not have easy against Moroccan champions Wydad Casablanca. Mamelodi Sundowns may walk into the semifinals against either Al Ahly or Simba if Petro de Luanda is indeed banned.
