FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

FIFA REJECTS ZIMBABWE PROTEST OVER NIGERIAN OLYMPIC GOALKEEPER

Zurich, 22 April 1996 - FIFA has rejected a protest from the Zimbabwe Football Association in connection with the Nigerian goalkeeper in the recent Olympic qualifying match between the two countries.

The Z.F.A. had maintained to FIFA that the player, Abiodun Baruba, had been born in 1969 and was therefore over the permitted age-limit. Players in the men's Olympic Football Tournament must be born after January 1, 1973.

After studying the evidence submitted by the Z.F.A., which consisted of a reference in a publication for the 1991 Nigerian Cup Final, and after having consulted the African Football Confederation (CAF) on documents in CAF's possession relating to Abiodun Baruba's age, the Bureau of the FIFA Organising Committee for the Olympic Football Tournaments concluded that the evidence submitted by Zimbabwe was not in accordance with the official documents. The decision is final.

Nigeria thus remain qualified for the men's Olympic Football Tournament in the United States in July/August this year. The other qualified teams from Africa are Ghana and Tunisia.

Address any enquiries to:
Andreas Herren, Information Officer
Telephone: +41-1/384 9595
Telefax: +41-1/384 9696

FIFA COMMUNICATIONS DIVISION
Zurich, 22 April 1996

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