Confederation of African Football (Caf) competitions   St Michel in Mauritius to play ‘home’ match against Motema Pembe   |06 October 2022

After meeting in Saturday’s President’s Cup, La Passe and St Michel continue their African venture

● La Passe leave today for ‘home’ and away ties in South Africa

Fresh from the President’s Cup win, St Michel left yesterday for Mauritius to play their ‘home’ leg match of the second round of the 2023 Confederation of African Football Cup on Saturday against Daring Club (DC) Motema Pembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo, while La Passe leave today for South Africa to clash with Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa in the second round of the Total Energies Caf Champions League.

Both St Michel and La Passe progressed to the second round in almost the same circumstances.

After losing the Total Energies Caf Champions League preliminary round away leg match 0-1 against the Volcan Club de Moroni at the Omnisports Stadium in Malouzini, the Comoros, with Danny scoring in the 15th minute of the encounter on Saturday September 10, La Passe travelled to Mauritius to ‘host’ the Comorians. But their opponents failed to make it to Mauritius, forcing Caf to cancel the match.

Reports had it that the Comorian team took a private jet, flew to Madagascar and got stuck there because they did not have landing rights.

Following the non-arrival of Volcan Club de Moroni in Mauritius, Caf awarded the match to La Passe who qualified for the second round where they will face Mamelodi Sundowns of South Africa.

La Passe leave today and will play both ‘home’ and away matches in South Africa. The ‘home’ match is on Sunday October 9 at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Tshwane, Pretoria and the return fixture is on Friday October 14 at the same venue.

Since Sundowns won’t have to travel to Mauritius to play La Passe in the return match, they have agreed to pay all of the La Digue-based team’s expenses during their stay in South Africa.

The fact that they will host both legs, this strengthens Sundown’s chances of advancing to the group phase of the continent’s top club competition for an eighth successive campaign.

A win on aggregate score will see either team take a place in their 16-team group phase, which gets under way in February.

As for St Michel, they progressed to the second round of the 2023 Confederation of African Football Cup without kicking a ball after winning by walk-over against Equatorial Guinean outfit Inter Litoral Academy.

The decision was taken by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) disciplinary committee.

St Michel were declared winners of their preliminary round ‘home match’ after the Equatorial Guineans did not turn up for the encounter scheduled to be played on Friday September 9 at 5pm at the Côte d'Or Sports Complex in Mauritius.

Inter Litoral Academy wrote to Caf on Thursday September 8 saying they were having flight difficulties and would arrive in Mauritius only late in the afternoon of Saturday September 10.

As the competition's regulations state clearly that late postponements of properly scheduled matches are considered only in cases of force majeure, meaning catastrophes, disasters, political upheavals and the like, Caf ruled that bad planning was not such a case and ruled that the game be held as planned.

St Michel thus took to the field in the afternoon of Friday September 9 and with their opponents nowhere in sight, were declared winners by walk-over after remaining on the pitch for the duration stated in the regulations.

The referee and match commissioner then sent their reports to Caf’s disciplinary committee which decided the next step.

St Michel were declared winners of the two-legged preliminary round encounter based on regulation 16 of the competition which states: "If for any reason whatsoever, a team withdraws from the competition or does not report for a match ‒ except in case of force majeure accepted by the organising committee ‒ or if it refuses to play or leaves the ground before the regular end of the match without the permission of the referee, it shall be considered as loser and shall be eliminated from the competition."

In the second round, the Anse Aux Pins-based team will meet Daring Club (DC) Motema Pembe of the Democratic Republic of Congo who won a bye straight into the second round. The ‘home’ leg is on Saturday in Mauritius at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex in St Pierre.

St Michel will then fly to Seychelles before jetting out to the Democratic Republic of Congo for the away match slated for the weekend of October 14-16.

It is note that all ‘home’ matches for Seychelles teams in continental competitions over recent months have been hosted in nearby Mauritius because Seychelles has no suitable stadium and renovations are still to be completed.

St Michel delegation:

Players: Alvin Michel, Francis Rafaralahy, Anjatiana Marlyn Ravoatrarilandy, Sam Hallock, Nigel Hoareau, Ramlee Pascal, Josip Ravignia, Leroy Coralie, Neil Confiance, Julio Brown, Kenner Nourrice, Raj Anacoura, Noris Bibi, Gilio Suzette, Mahaosy Del  Pierrot Iary, Alexander Esparon and Christopher Legaie.

Management: Micheal Delpech, Brian Uranie, Ralph Jean-Louis, Derreck Agathine, Henny Dufrenne, Alex Nibourette, Juan Michel and Nelson Sopha.

Head of delegation: Denis Rose.

La Passe delegation:

Players : Basil Esther, Afandi Rynno Aboudou, Derold Mussard, Shane Ernesta, Don Fanchette, Hiroy  Christopher Jupitor, Nomenjanahary Florent Rajaoniasy, Helton Monnaie, Achille Henriette, Rinho Michel Randriamanjaka, Jean Aimarthelin Ratianaridimby, Jean-Yves  Choisy, Stan Fanchette, Ian Ah-Kong, Craig  Cedras, Assad Ryan Aboudou, Damio  Olive Ladouce, Dave Mussard and Rodrick Godfrey Rose

Management: Cliff Pirame, Gaitan Dana Rose, Serge Luc Ernesta, and Fred Edwin Moise

Head of delegation: Clive Delorie.

Gerard Govinden