Africa-Press – Liberia. FC Fassell has been denied entry by Algerian immigration authorities ahead of their CAF Champions League preliminary second-leg clash with MC Alger scheduled for Saturday, September 27.
The Liberian side, known as the Soccer Missionaries, landed at Algiers International Airport at 10:40 a.m. local time (09:40 GMT). Initially, the delegation cleared immigration after being informed that their passports would be returned to them at the Holiday Inn Hotel, where the team was expected to lodge.
However, shortly after, immigration officials recalled the delegation to the control area, citing a lack of valid visas for entry. The players and officials are now being held at the airport’s passport control lodge.
Under CAF protocols, host clubs are responsible for facilitating visas for visiting teams. In this case, MC Alger was expected to coordinate with the Algerian Football Federation to secure entry permits for FC Fassell. According to airport officials, the Federation’s attempt to pay for the visas in Algerian Dinar instead of Euros led to the rejection of the payment.
Fassell officials said they were informed they would have to pay for their visas directly, with assurances of reimbursement later.
As of press time, the team had been stranded for more than three hours, with growing frustration among the players and staff.
“We are still stuck here. Our passports have not been returned, and the situation is becoming unbearable. At this point, we just want to return to Liberia,” a member of the delegation told FrontPage Africa’s sports correspondent traveling with the team.
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