Match Schedule: August 2013

There is only one FIFA World Cup match scheduled for the month of August 2013, and that is a makeup for the snow-delayed match between hosts Northern Ireland and Russia that was originally scheduled for 22 March 2013.  Northern Ireland will be looking for their first win of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Time is given in Central Time (GMT-5).

14 August 2013
Russia at Northern Ireland 13:45 Belfast

Equatorial Guinea docked points for ineligible player

Equatorial Guinea become the sixth African team sanctioned for fielding ineligible players in a qualifying match during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.  Equatorial Guinea have forfeited their home victory over Cape Verde for having fielded an ineligible player.  Emilio Nsue, who scored a hat trick in the match, was not eligible to represent Equatorial Guinea at the senior international level, though no exact reason was given for his ineligibility to play for the country.  The match in question occurred on 24 March 2013, a match which Equatorial Guinea won 4-3.  The match has been awarded as a 3-0 victory to Cape Verde.  Also, the return fixture that occurred on 8 June 2013 has been awarded as a 3-0 victory to Cape Verde.  Nsue also featured in that match, so Equatorial Guinea were punished again.  The original outcome of that match was a 2-1 victory for Cape Verde.  The adjusted group table appears as follows:

Tunisia 11 pts
Cape Verde 9 pts
Sierra Leone OUT
Eq. Guinea OUT


This changes the scenario for Tunisia's home match in September against Cape Verde.  Before this ruling, Tunisia had clinched the group, but now Cape Verde have arisen from the ranks of the eliminated.  Now the match will occur with the Group B title on the line.  Tunisia need only a draw to advance.

News Reports:
http://sports.yahoo.com/news/soccer-equatorial-guineas-hat-trick-hero-declared-ineligible-163804291.html
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2013/soccer/wires/07/19/2080.ap.soc.fifa.equatorial.guinea.1st.ld.writethru.197/index.html

Togo docked points for inelgible player

Last-place Togo continue the troubling trend of African teams being sanctioned for playing ineligible players in a qualifying match.  Togo have forfeited their home victory against Cameroon due to fielding a player who should have been serving a suspension for yellow-card accumulation.  The match in question occurred on 9 June 2013, a match which Togo won 2-0.  Alaixys Romao should not have been permitted to participate in that match, so Togo are now being punished.  The match has been awarded as a 3-0 victory to Cameroon.  The adjusted group table appears as follows:

Cameroon 10 pts +4
Libya 9 pts +3
DR Congo OUT
Togo OUT

This changes the scenario for Libya's match away to Cameroon in September with the Group I title on the line.  Previously, Libya only needed a draw to clinch the title, but now Libya have to defeat Cameroon in order to advance.

News Reports:
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2132048/index.html?intcmp=fifacom_hp_module_media_statements

Ethiopia docked points for ineligible player

CAF Group A winners Ethiopia have forfeited one of their victories against Botswana due to fielding a player who should have been serving a suspension for yellow-card accumulation.  The match in question occurred on 8 June 2013, a match which Ethiopia won in Botswana 2-1.  Minyahile Beyene should not have been permitted to participate in that match, and Ethiopia have acknowledged the mistake.  The match has been awarded as a 3-0 victory to Botswana.  The adjusted group table appears as follows:

Ethiopia 10 pts +1
South Africa 8 pts +4
Botswana 7 pts +1
Cen. Af. Rep. OUT

This news saves both South Africa and Botswana from elimination with one round of matches left to be played in September.  Ethiopia would clinch the group (for real this time) with a victory away to Central African Republic, but a slip up would allow the winner of South Africa's home match against Botswana to steal top spot in the group.

News Reports:
http://www.supersport.com/football/article.aspx?Id=1979334
http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/organisation/news/newsid=2128618/index.html

AFC Playoff Schedule

Uzbekistan and Jordan qualified for the AFC Playoff by virtue of finishing in third place in their AFC Fourth Round groups.  The AFC Playoff is played as a two-legged home-and-away series with the winner determined by aggregate score over the two matches.  The draw for which group's third-place team would host the first or second leg was held in Zurich on 19 March 2013.  Group Two was given the first leg at home and Group One was awarded the second leg at home.  The winner of the AFC Playoff advances to face the fifth-place South American team in the Intercontinental Playoffs.

6 September 2013
Uzbekistan at Jordan

10 September 2013
Jordan at Uzbekistan