Morocco lose appeal

Morocco have lost an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport for the award of a 3-0 victory in a World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier with Togo, who they believe fielded an ineligible player.

Togo defender Abdul Mamah played in the 0-0 draw in Morocco, two weeks after appearing against Gabon in a game he should have missed due to the accumulation of yellow cards.

Morocco suggested Mamah’s one-match ban should have applied to the following match – their fixture with Togo in Rabat – and requested a win by forfeit in the contest which acted as a World Cup and African Nations Cup qualifier.

FIFA, however, ruled Togo’s match with Gabon should be forfeited 3-0 – Gabon were 3-0 winners anyway – and CAS supported the ruling made by world football’s governing body.

A CAS statement read: “The FIFA regulations do not mention the player who failed to serve a game suspension is automatically suspended for the next game.”

Morocco are bottom of qualifying Group A and require a win over group leaders Cameroon – themselves chasing group victory and a place at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa – to have any hope of advancing to the African Nations Cup finals in Angola.