Egypt’s Zamalek football Club will not play the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Super Cup set to take place in Qatar February next year, the Egyptian team’s boss Mortada Mansour has said.
The announcement came amid ongoing diplomatic showdown between the tiny Gulf country and Saudi-led quartet that includes Egypt.
The executive community of the African football body decided Thursday to stage the Super Cup between Tunisia’s Esperance Sportive de Tunis (winner of the CAF Champions League) and Cairo’s Zamalek (winner of CAF Cup) on February 14 in Doha.
CAF Super cup event will be the second final that the Gulf country will host after signing a three-year deal with CAF.
Prior to the decision, Mansour in October vowed not to take part in the final if it were to be played in Qatar.
“I don’t mind playing against Tunisia’s Esperance, but I won’t play in Qatar in order to lift a platelet [the trophy],” he said.
“We are ready for any problems the CAF may cause. We won’t play the game no matter what, even if we are relegated to third division.”
Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Bahrain have severed ties with Qatar since June 2017 over its alleged support for terrorism. The quartet also imposed a sea/air/land blockade on the tiny gas-rich country. Doha has however vehemently denied any wrongdoing.
Two years ago, the Zamalek President refused to the handball Zamalek team, then reigning African champions, to take part in the World handball Clubs Championship in Qatar.
Zamalek could face sanctions from the CAF if it boycotts the match in February.
