FIFA have announced that Cape Verde Is’ shock win over Tunisia, which had earned them a place in the CAF playoffs, has been overturned due to an ineligible player taking the pitch. The sanction hands the Group B title to Tunisia.

Fernando VARELA played in the match in Rades on SAT 07 SEP 2013. Cape Verde Is won the match 2-0, believing that they had earned top spot in the group.

However, Varela had been suspended for four matches after his actions in the Group B match against Equatorial Guinea on SUN 24 MAR 2013, in which he was sent off for unsporting conduct toward the match officials. That match, and the following one, were both awarded to Cape Verde Is by forfeiture because Eq Guinea fielded an ineligible player.

FIFA has now ruled that Varela should have sat out the Tunisia match, the Blue Sharks’ third official match since the suspension. Tunisia have therefore been awarded a 3-0 win by forfeiture.

The decision means that the Carthage Eagles finish first in Group B and will compete in the CAF playoffs instead of Cape Verde Is.