Burundi: CAF suspends two main stadiums
The African Football Confederation has suspended the Intwara and Urukundo stadiums in Ngozi from all international competition. These are the two infrastructures in Burundi that hosted international football competitions.
The news began to circulate earlier this week. It was finally confirmed on Friday by the president of the Burundi Football Federation, Réverien Ndikuriyo via his Facebook account.
Football lovers, the Burundians are wondering where the match against the Central African Republic will be relocated. The country closest to Burundi is Rwanda, but relations between the two countries are not good. There remains then Tanzania, a friendly country but its capital is a little distant. But Réverien Ndikuriyo surprised more than one. He is already in contact with Morocco to receive the Central African Republic at the Mohammed V stadium. The reason is simple. Burundi will be hosted by Morocco on the 6th and final day of the qualifiers. however, it remains to be seen whether the Royal Moroccan Football Federation will accept this request, while Morocco is not yet qualified. If this request is denied, the safest option will remain the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
Morocco or Tanzania as a land of welcome …
Burundi (4 pts -3) is 3rd in group E, behind Morocco (1st, 10 pts +8) and Mauritania (2nd, 5 pts +0). Opponent of the Swallows during the 5th day, the Central African Republic (3 pts -5) occupies the 4th place. The relocation of this match could reduce the chances of the Swallows for a probable qualification for CAN 2021. And the supporters are unhappy. “ We do not understand how an institution like CAF takes such measures at the last minute. It’s only a way to break us. It’s a shame but we hope that if the match is played in Tanzania, the Tanzanians will support us ”, plague one of them.
“Even though the fans are unhappy, they themselves recognize that the Intwari stadium is far from modern and should therefore be honest with CAF,” admits another fan. Indeed, first this stadium is not lit, while the seats are not numbered, not to mention the lack of a press stand.
Yet at each inspection of the CAF, it was expected that this stage would be suspended. Unfortunately for Burundian football, its modernization has never been a priority for the Burundian authorities. Small stadiums are sprouting up like mushrooms in several provinces of Burundi, but CAF has just proven that Burundi has no stadium that meets international standards
