By Amaechi Agbo

“Sacked” Tanzania Coach, Adel Amrouche has vowed to appeal his eight-match ban and $10, 000 fine by the Confederation of Africa Football, CAF.

CAF on Friday banned and fined the Algerian coach following his comment in his sides 3-0 defeat to Morocco in their first group match at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Ivory Coast.

“In another step, the Tanzania Football Federation (TFF) has suspended coach Amrouche. As a result of that decision, Hemed Morocco has been appointed acting coach and he will be assisted by Juma Mgunda,” Tanzania Football Federation, TFF spokesman Clifford Mario Ndimbo said.

Amrouche had said that Morocco held too much influence in the corridors of power in African football and were influencing the appointment of referees.

Amrouche said he is anchoring his appeal on ground of lack of fair hearing as he was never invited to appear before the CAF’s disciplinary committee to defend himself

“I am certainly going to appeal against my ban.
My lawyer has advised not to talk to the media, so I really don’t want to say much for now.

*But how can I be banned without even being given a disciplinary notice or hearing? How is this fair? How is this justice?”

Report indicates that Amrouche is still with the Tanzania team, despite his ban and reported sack

Background Information

On Friday, Tanzania were thrashed 3-0 by 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, Morocco and Adei Amrouche expressed misgivings following the defeat and officiation.

“The Morocco federation is a proven power in the world of African football. Morocco manages African football. They also choose their referees and we remain simple spectators,” Amrouche said in an interview on Algerian television.

Amrouche, born in Algeria but a Belgian citizen, said Morocco had “a strike force” within the African confederation doing their bidding.

“For example, during the match between us and Morocco in the World Cup qualifiers in November we asked to play at two p.m.,” he said.

It was Tanzania’s home game and they wanted to use the daytime heat in Dar es Salaam to their advantage against the Moroccan players, most of whom are based at clubs in Europe.

“But CAF scheduled the match for the evening,” Amrouche added.

In the same interview, Amrouche criticised his own federation for changing their pre-tournament preparation camp.

“I had scheduled a preparation camp in Algeria. I even scheduled friendly matches against Mauritania, Cape Verde and Anderlecht.

“But there was influence placed on officials to relocate our place of preparation. So we were forced to prepare in Cairo,” he said.

Neighbours Algeria and Morocco have a frosty relationship, with the border between the two countries closed.

Their political rivalry has spilled over into the ranks of African football where last year the two were bidding against each other for the hosting of the next Cup of Nations tournament.
Morocco won the hosting rights.