Zambia Officially Protest Against Sudan, Seeking To Move Above Ghana

Zambia have officially filed a protest with FIFA seeking to overturn their result against Sudan as they fight to move above Ghana in their World Cup qualifying group. Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) says they have officially informed Fifa over Sudan�s fielding of an ineligible player despite mounting doubts over the protest. If Zambia gets a favourable answer from FIFA, they will move above Ghana in the World Cup qualifiers leaving the Black Stars with a huge mountain to climb to reach Brazil 2014. The Chipolopolo are protesting against Sudan midfielder Saif Eldin Ali Masawi who was in action when they clashed two weeks ago but the protest was not filed within 72 per FIFA regulations. Fresh evidence from CAF and the Match Commissioner indicate that the Sudan FA was not provided with any information by CAF or FIFA showing that any of their players are ineligible for the game � as it is the norm. Despite the strong evidence against their protest, (FAZ) has gone ahead slap in the protest hoping to go top of Group D of the World Cup qualifiers �Pursuant to our statement released earlier today, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) would like to announce that world soccer governing body FIFA has informed us that they are forwarding our mater to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee,� a statement by Faz read. �FIFA�s response to FAZ comes in the wake of the ended week�s correspondence between Football House and FIFA House. �In our communication to Zurich last week, we requested FIFA to review the June 2 FIFA World Cup Brazil 2014 qualifier match Sudan vs. Zambia with specific reference to the Sudanese player Saif Ali Eldin Adris. �As stated in our earlier statement, Football House had been looking at the relevant documentation and materials relating to the game, the player in review as well as the rules and regulations governing the 2014 Qualifiers. �Once again, once the FIFA process is completed and the outcome communicated to us, we shall inform the nation accordingly.� Zambia will move to the top of the group with six points while Ghana will be second with three points if FIFA rules in favour of the Chipolopolo. Sudan won the game against Zambia 2-0 in Khartoum two weeks ago which helped them to move to the top of Group with four points after drawing with Lesotho over the weekend. The Zambians are protesting against Masawi who scored against them in the game in Khartoum as he was not qualified to play in the match. That is because he received in red card at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations which was Sudan�s last official game before the World Cup qualifiers. This means the Sudanese player was not qualified to play in the game. Coincidentally, Masawi received a 65th minute second yellow card in Chipolopolo and Sudan�s first meeting this year on February 4. Chipolopolo won that match 3-0 in a 2012 Africa Cup quarterfinal game played in Bata, Equatorial Guinea. Sudan currently lead Group D on four points, one more than second placed Ghana and third placed Chipolopolo while Lesotho are bottom on one point.