Mali clubs are first casualties of Fifa ban

Johannesburg: Bamako-based clubs Djoliba and Onze Createurs became the first casualties of FIFA’s suspension on Mali after they were stopped from playing in African club competition on Saturday and effectively disqualified. Both clubs had leads from last weekend’s first leg matches at home in the second round of Africa’s secondary club tournament, with Djoliba 2-0 up over Egypt’s Al Masry and Onze Createurs having a single goal advantage over Rayon Sports from Rwanda. The two clubs had already set off for their return matches in Ismaili and Kigali but were barred from playing after Fifa banned the west African country on Friday.