FIFA have turned down an appeal made by Cape Verde against a decision to disqualify the country from taking part at the 2014 World Cup African qualifying playoff.

Cape Verde were replaced with Tunisia for fielding an ineligible player in a qualifier game.

Decision

-The FIFA Appeal Committee rendered a decision on 23 September 2013 regarding an appeal lodged by the Cape Verdean Football Association (FCF) and informed the association of the decision today, 1 October 2013, a statement wrote on FIFA’s official website.

-The appeal lodged by the FCF was rejected and the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee rendered on 12 September 2013, has been confirmed in its entirety. As such, the sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Committee on the FCF for fielding an ineligible player in the preliminary competition match for the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil™ between Tunisia and the Cape Verde Islands on 7 September 2013 stands.

-The match in question was declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Tunisia, meaning that the Cape Verde Islands will not progress to round three of the FIFA World Cup™ African zone qualifiers having dropped to second place in Group B with nine points, while Tunisia advance having finished first with 14 points.

Tunisia have been handed Cameroon opponent in their playoff.