KAMPALA, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared Sudan of any wrongdoing at the on-going 2018 Total Africa Nations Championship (CHAN).
Guinea Football Federation (FEGUIFOOT) lodged a protest against the Sudan Football Association (SFA) on Thursday, citing an administrative error over the registration of player Elsamani Elsawi Elsheikh for the finals of the tournament in Morocco.
Sudan qualified for the quarter finals after beating Guinea 2-1 and stopping Mauritania 1-0. They will face hosts Morocco on Sunday for the top place in Group A.
"After investigations, CAF has established that there was no administrative error by the SFA with respect to the player's registration. As at the time of the kick-off of the Group A clash Sudan-Guinea on 14 January 2018 at 14:30 local time, the registration of Elsamani Elsawi Elsheikh on the FIFA Transfer Management System (TMS) as a player of Al Ittihad Tripoli (Libya) was not finalized and the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) was yet to be issued," CAF announced this evening in a communication.
Elsheikh didn't play in match against Mauritania.
The Guinean FA said the player had signed with Libyan club Al Ittihad Tripoli on December 31.
The African Nations Championship only allow players with permanent contracts registered in domestic clubs affiliated to their national associations.