Sudan, Chad to compete for World Cup qualifiers in Egypt – FIFA

August 5, 2008 (JOHANNESBURG) – Sudan and Chad Will meet in Egypt for their World Cup qualifying matches next month, said the Soccer’s governing body today.

Following an attack on the Sudanese capital by a Darfur rebel group last May, Sudan had severed diplomatic relations with Chad. Then, N’djamena prevented its soccer team from travelling to Khartoum to compete against Sudan team on May 31.

The matches are intended to count toward qualifying for the 2010 African Cup of Nations being staged in Angola. The African football confederation threw Chad out of the tournament for failing to travel for the match.

The two Group 10 games are to take place at Cairo’s Military Academy stadium on Sept. 6 and 10, a FIFA spokesman said on Tuesday.

Last week the two neighbouring countries agreed to resume diplomatic relations. Further Sudan announced today it would reopen its embassy in N’djamena within ten days.

(ST)