CAFCL: Why George Finidi, Olanrewaju Yemi couldn’t sit on Enyimba’s technical bench

By Wale Mustapha

The Confederation of African Football, CAF have shed light on the bench ban handed out to  Enyimba coach George Finidi and his assistant, Olanrewaju Yemi in the Champions League clash against Ahli Benghazi of Libya in Aba.

The People’s Elephants had suffered a 4-3 defeat in the first leg match played in Benghazi penultimate week before they were knocked out of the competition on Sunday following a goaless draw against the Libyans.

Despite the elimination, Finidi and Yemi’s sideline ban erupted questions among Nigerian football fans and CAF’s Head of Security and Safety, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, offered an explanation to the controversial situation.

“The decision was based on the Confederation to raise the standard of coaching education in Africa, which means for a coach to be on bench in any CAF games, he or she must either be certified with a CAF A License or UEFA Pro license,” Emeruwa wrote in a statement.

“He can either have a Confederation Pro licence while the assistants are to have a minimum of CAF B which unfortunately Finidi and his assistants do not have in this case.

“CAF accepts anyone with a CAF A and UEFA Pro, AFC Pro or any Confederation Pro licence to serve as head coach for Champions League and assistants must have minimum of CAF B. This rule applies to all across the continent and it’s not new.”