Rayon Sports have qualified for the play-off round of the CAF Confederation Cup following the suspension of the Malian Football (FEMAFOOT) by the world football governing body, FIFA.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Secretary General Hicham El Amrani confirmed the development on Friday in a letter addressed to FERWAFA.

"We have been informed by FIFA of the suspension of the Malian Football Federation from all sporting activities. Consequently, the Malian clubs are not allowed to participate in CAF Interclub competitions scheduled this weekend,” the letter reads in part.

Consequently, Rayon’s opponents AS Onze Créateurs de Niaréla, who won the first leg of their first round tie 1-0 in Mali last week, have been disqualified from the competition, thus handing the Rwandan Peace Cup holders automatic qualification to the next round without playing the second leg.

The Malian team were already in town and the game was scheduled to take place at Kigali’s Amahoro National Stadium on Saturday.

FIFA sanctioned Mali after the dissolution of FEMAFOOT by the Minister for Sports, Housseini Amion Guindo, a decision that goes against FIFA’s policy that requires governments not to meddle in football matters.

Times Sport understands the decision was communicated to FERWAFA on Friday.

Reacting to the news, Rayon Sports secretary general, Olivier Gakwaya said: "Of course we are happy that we’ve reached the next round of the Confederation Cup but we are not happy that our counterparts have been discontinued in the manner it has happened, we hope the matter will be sorted soon. Otherwise, we will go on with preparing the team for the next round of matches.”

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