Ghana seeks Burkina's disqualification

Ghana has filed a protest against the qualification of two players used by Burkina Faso in Wednesday’s first leg Olympic qualifier played in Ouagadougou.

Though Ghana lost 2-0, officials say available records point to the flouting of the competition rules with the use of two unqualified players.


The Ghana team protested to the match commissioner of the game with Burkina Faso over the use of Saidou Maidy Panandetigu and Fousseni Traore.


A formal protest was expected to be dispatched to FIFA on Thursday demanding that Burkina Faso be disqualified. However, the Burkinabe officials claimed that the players were eligible since any nation could field three over-aged players.


Soccer governing body, FIFA in a circular dated August 3, 2006 for participation for the men’s football preliminary competition for the Beijing 2008 stated that only players born after January 1, 1985 could play in the preliminary round.

With the women’s competition, there are no age restrictions.


Records given by the Burkinabes showed that Saidou Maidy Panandetigu, captain of the side with registered shirt number 12 and passport number S1108688 was born on March 22, 1984 while Fousseni Traore with jersey number 4 and holding passport number S1106385 was born on July 18, 1984.


Also under FIFA’s Match Eligibility regulations 13.2, only players born on or after 1 January 1985 are eligible to feature in the preliminary round of the Beijing 2008 competition.


Three tickets would be available to the African continent for next year’s football tournament at the men’s Olympic Games.