‘We are on the pitch’: Libya’s Al-Akhdar left baffled by absent opposition

Libyan club Al-Akhdar were left baffled when they arrived at their Benghazi stadium for an African Confederations Cup clash against Marumo Gallants, only to find no referee, no officials and no opposition.

Sunday afternoon’s group match in the second-tier continental club competition had been postponed by the African Football Confederation (CAF) by four hours because the visitors had a problem with their flight from South Africa.

Unfortunately, according to the Al-Akhdar assistant coach Ahmed Saleh, CAF forgot to inform the home team. “The match against Marumo was supposed to be at 3pm [but] the referees, officials, and the visiting team haven’t arrived,” he posted on Facebook. “We are on the pitch and now the game has been postponed. Strange continent of Africa.”

When the fixture did finally get under way, Marumo Gallants, who took to the field straight from the airport, went down 4-1 to give Al-Akhdar their first win in five group matches.

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Fortunately for the visitors, Congolese side Saint-Eloi Lupopo were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria’s USM Alger in Sunday’s other group match, guaranteeing the Gallants a spot in the quarter-finals.