Confederation of African Football (CAF) has shifted the 2024 AFCON Beach Soccer qualifier first leg encounter between Burundi and Malawi from Saturday July 20 to Monday July 22, 2024, after Malawi failed to travel to Burundi on Tuesday due to logistical challenges.
CAF has confirmed the changes after Burundi Football Federation accepted Football Association of Malawi’s request to consider changing the date of the match after failing to get alternatives that would have enabled the Malawi team to arrive in Burundi in time for the match on Saturday.
The Malawi team failed to secure in time documentation for layover visas in Democratic Republic of Congo where the team was expected to spend a night on Wednesday before connecting to Bujumbura on Thursday.
The team will now leave on Saturday afternoon via Nairobi, Kenya before connecting to Bujumbura on Sunday morning.
FAM Competitions and Communications Director Gomezgani Zakazaka thanked the Burundi FA for their consideration to the request.
“After missing the flight on Tuesday, the only other option we had was to travel on Friday and arrive on the match day. We managed to negotiate with Burundi who were kind enough to accord our request and instructed CAF to change the dates. We thank them for their gesture,” said Zakazaka.
Malawi will host the return leg next week Saturday in Salima.