Niger: two Niamey football clubs forfeit for African competitions

Football clubs in Niger have withdrawn from African competitions due to regional sanctions imposed on the Sahelian country following the July 26 coup, the Niger Football Federation (Fénifoot) has announced.

Two clubs from Niamey, AS Garde Nationale and AS Douane, were due to play in the preliminary rounds of the Champions League and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Cup.

In a statement sent to AFP on Friday, Fénifoot justifies this decision "by the harmful effects of the embargo of ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States, editor's note) against our country which hinders the free movement" of its teams.

Following the coup that overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum at the end of July, ECOWAS imposed a battery of sanctions, including the closure of land and air borders between Niger and its member states.

Due to "the socio-political situation" in Niger, the Confederation of African Football has already decided to relocate matches that Nigerien teams were to play at home to other countries, according to the federation. This measure is "an additional difficulty" for Nigerien clubs, adds Fénifoot.

Niger, a poor Sahelian country, faced with deadly attacks from jihadist groups for years, has been led for a month by the soldiers behind the coup.

In addition to sanctions, ECOWAS has threatened the military regime to restore the ousted president to office through armed intervention.