Emmanuel Muga
BBC Sport, Dar-es-Salam |
 Tanzania face a heavy Caf fine |
Tanzania have pulled out of Sunday's Nations Cup qualifying game against Sudan at the eleventh hour. The Tanzanians withdrew because they were unable to raise funds to travel to Khartoum for the Group 3 fixture.
Both countries have no chance of qualifying, as the game was merely academic.
Benin and Zambia, who play in Cotonou on Sunday, are the only teams capable of making it to Tunisia 2004.
Charles Massanja, the secretary-general of the Football Association of Tanzania (Fat) said they were unable to secure US$15, 000 to enable the team make the trip.
"I have been borrowing from almost everyone but in the end I failed to get the money we need to send the team to Sudan," lamented Massanja.
"People think the national team is the property of Fat but that's wrong.
"This team is for all Tanzanians but nobody wants to help."
Despite Tanzania's cash woes, they are likely to be slapped with a fine by the Confederation of African Football.
The Tanzania government refused to give the team financial support, after accusing Fat of lacking transparency.
Financial constraints also forced Tanzania to travel by road to honour their previous game against Zambia in Lusaka.
MMIX
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
