ZURICH (AP) — FIFA has stripped Sudan of its 2-0 win over Zambia in a 2014 World Cup qualifier because one of its scorers was ineligible to play.
FIFA says its disciplinary committee ruled that Saif Ali shouldn’t have played in the June 2 match in Khartoum, so Zambia is awarded a 3-0 victory. FIFA also fined the Sudan soccer association $6,430.
Zambia now leads Group D with six points after two matches, and Sudan falls to third place with one point. Ghana has three points and last-place Lesotho has one.
Zambia protested that Ali played despite receiving yellow cards in previous competitive matches, including when Zambia beat Sudan in an African Cup of Nations quarterfinal in February.
African qualifying matches resume in March.