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Travel restrictions due to a new strain of coronavirus could make the Soweto giants unable to meet their continental matches
The Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates’ Caf club matches are in doubt after the Angolan government closed its borders to travelers from South Africa.
Both teams have Angolan opponents and the move to close the borders comes as South Africa is recording cases of a new super-infectious coronavirus strain.
The Chiefs are scheduled to visit Primeiro Agosto for the first round of the Caf Champions League, the second leg on January 5.
The next day, the Pirates have a first round of the Caf Confederation Cup, the second leg against Sagrada Esperanca at Orlando Stadium.
But with Angolan authorities closing their borders to travelers from Australia, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom, there is a possibility that Pirates and Chiefs matches will be canceled.
It is not yet clear whether sports activities will have an exception.
“Limited international travel is allowed. The following persons or reasons for travel are permitted from outside Australia, Nigeria, South Africa and the United Kingdom as of 11:59 p.m. on December 26: residents [local and foreign] arriving or departing, foreigners departing, official travelers, cargo and humanitarian transport, medical emergencies, diplomatic transport and technical stopovers, ”said the Angolan government according to Garda World.
“Anyone entering the country must comply with a mandatory home quarantine period of at least seven days. Symptomatic individuals may be required to self-quarantine in a government-run facility. The land and sea borders will remain closed until further notice, except for humanitarian and cargo transport. “
TAAG Angola Airlines, the country’s flag carrier, also announced that it canceled all its flights to South Africa due to the new Covid-19 strain sparking a wave of infections.
If the Chiefs and Pirates’ Caf matches against their Angolan opponents are canceled, it would disrupt the continental ambitions of both Soweto giants.
With the Chiefs fighting on the home front, they would have hoped to ease the pressure with a hot streak in African competition.
Amakhosi still has hopes of reaching the group stage of the Champions League for the first time after drawing 0-0 against Agosto in the first leg.
A draw would be enough for Gavin Hunt’s men to navigate into the mini-league phase of the competition.
The Pirates, on the other hand, moved closer to the group stage after securing a crucial 1-0 victory over Sagrada Esperanca in the first leg.
