Eritrea withdraw from qualifier against Ethiopia

Eritrea’s football team has withdrawn from a scheduled match against arch-foe Ethiopia, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said in a letter. “We have just been informed by the Eritrean Football Federation that their national team is withdrawing,” CAF Deputy Director Shereen Arafa wrote in a letter dated Dec. 4. Ethiopia said on Tuesday it would not face its rival for the African Nations Championship qualifier match in Asmara, where the match was scheduled to be held in January. Ethiopia requested the match take place in Sudan instead. “The match is cancelled and Ethiopia is qualified for the next round,” the letter stated.