JOHANNESBURG (AP) — World Cup qualifiers involving Egypt and Libya will be played without fans next month because of political tensions in those countries.
FIFA also announced Wednesday that security arrangements for matches in Mali, Nigeria and Kenya were being considered.
Egypt-Mozambique in Alexandria on June 1 and Libya-Cameroon in Sfax, Tunisia, on June 10 will be behind closed doors, the world soccer body told The Associated Press in a written reply to questions. FIFA said the decision was made by local authorities and soccer federations in those countries.
Mali’s game against Algeria could be moved out of the West African country after the president was toppled in a coup.
The ruling body also was reviewing security plans for Nigeria’s home game against Namibia in the southeastern city of Calabar.
