Rwanda will play their home game against Benin slated for March 27 in Cotonou after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that Huye Stadium is not qualified yet to host the AFCON qualifiers due to substandard hotels.
The Cheetah’s will host Carlos Alos Ferrer’s Amavubi at the Stade de l’Amitie on Wednesday, March 22, with the return leg scheduled to take place five days later.
Rwnada was expected to host their fourth Group L fixture against Benin at Huye Stadium but CAF revoked the stadium’s rights to host the game after Benin complained that Huye town does not have standard hotels to accommodate their team and match officials.
“CAF said Hotels in Huye don’t meet the standards, some of them are under renovation but not yet completed,” Rwanda FA president Olivier Mugabo told Times Sport in an interview.
A letter that CAF addressed to Ferwafa which Times Sport has seen, states that the former has previously reported and alerted Ferwafa to the need for local authorities to guarantee at least three 4-star hotels or higher category international rating hotels in Huye venue which can accommodate the teams and match officials during CAF senior international A matches.
“Despite our prior communication on the matter, the reported situation has not improved and the existing hotel facilities do not comply with the requested standards,” the letter, dated March 21, reads in part.
Mugabo said that his federation is preparing an appeal to challenge CAF’s decision of ordering Rwnada to play bother qualifiers against Benin in Cotonou.
“We are discussing on possibilities to appeal,” he said.
Rwanda are third in Group L with one point from two games following a 1-1 draw with Mozambique and 1-0 defeat to Senegal.
Should both games against Benin be played in Cotonou, Rwanda would be going four games in row playing away from home.
