Kick-Off for Botswana vs Egypt rescheduled to 18:00 after traveling complications

Botswana Football Association (BFA) CEO Edwin Mfolo confirmed on Sports Night Amplified with Andile Ncube on Metro FM last night that their team faced traveling complications and was only expected to land back in Botswana this morning at 9am.

Mfolo says this is due to flight complications they encountered in Mauritania.

"Yeah, very true, we are playing Egypt tomorrow, our boys are delayed in Mauritania.

The game was scheduled to start at 3pm in the afternoon, we made an initiative and wrote to CAF to ask that the game be moved to a later time. Specifically, we had asked for 8pm but CAF has since responded saying the game will be played at 6pm in the evening," Mfolo said.

"I think it's just an unfortunate situation because when we travelled to Mauritania, we went through Libya first to play a practice match, we were using a commercial flight so when we came back, we were supposed to use the charter things did not go well with the charter that we had designated to use.

“Last minute, I think things dropped down so we had to look for another charter so basically that's the delay that cost us to be still in Mauritania and arrive later for the game tomorrow."

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Egypt arrived in Botswana yesterday ahead of today's game.

They were also scheduled to hold a match day minus one press conference and train at the Obed Itani Chilume Stadium in Francistown, where the game will take place.

The Pharaohs lead Group C with three points after beating Cape Verde 3-0 in the opening game.

The Egyptian FA had tried to reject the 18:00, requesting the game to kick off an hour earlier instead, but Mfolo says CAF has the last word on this matter.

"Yeah, Egypt arrived at midnight yesterday but anyway, that's the situation that we've found ourselves in. We just have to deal with it, it's very unfortunate,” he added.

“I've seen a glimpse of their communication where they are saying they would rather settle for 5pm but you know, at the end of the day CAF is the one that decides.

We put in our proposal, they were consulted and then it's for CAF to decide and CAF has decided the game will start at 6pm."