News24
23 May 2020, 00:12 GMT+10
Burundi are the only African country to continue playing football during the coronavirus pandemic, with the league heading toward a potentially thrilling climax.
Musongati FC drew 3-3 with Athletico Academy in midweek to close the gap behind leaders Le Messager Ngozi to three points with three rounds of the Primus Ligue remaining.
Ngozi are seeking a second title and Musongati a first, and both have two home and one away fixtures ahead with the 30-round season scheduled to finish on 28 June.
While top-level football in all other African countries was suspended or cancelled by the Covid-19 outbreak, Burundi decided to carry on playing.
Spectators who saw Musongati surrender two points after conceding a late goal to Athletico in the capital city, Gitega, adhered to some anti-virus precautions, but not others.
The temperature of everyone entering the 10 000-capacity Stade Ingoma was checked and sanitiser sprayed on their hands.
But there was no social distancing in the stands and terraces with many spectators seated next to each other.
Many players also flouted behavioural guidance given to footballers, hugging each other and touching the hands of team-mates when celebrating goals.
Other countries who opted to continue domestic leagues as the coronavirus claimed thousands of lives across the globe included Belarus, Nicaragua and Tajikistan.
The match in Gitega, which replaced Bujumbura as capital of the tiny, densely populated east African nation this year, marked the return of football after a break for elections.
Millions of Burundians flocked to polling stations Wednesday to choose a successor to Pierre Nkurunziza as president, and also elect parliamentarians and local councillors.
Apart from league fixtures on 30/31 May and 20/21 and 27-28 June, Burundi also plan to complete the country's FA Cup competition, which is at the semi-finals stage.
The league and cup winners will qualify for the 2020/21 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup competitions, which are scheduled to kick off on 7 August.
The best performance by a Burundian club in a CAF competition was Vital'O reaching the 1992 final of the now defunct African Cup Winners Cup.
Vital'O were held 1-1 at home by Africa Sports of the Ivory Coast in the first leg and lost the return match 4-0 in Abidjan.
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationChattogram [Bangladesh], May 1 (ANI): All-rounder Mehidy Hasan Miraz became just the third Bangladesh player and 39th overall in Test...
New Delhi [India], May 1 (ANI): Delhi Police have solved a hit-and-run case by arresting 55-year-old Rajesh Mehta, a property dealer...
(250501) -- RIO DE JANEIRO, May 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the...
(250501) -- ADDIS ABABA, May 1, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Rita Bissoonauth, director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural...
Tehran [Iran], May 1 (ANI): The Middle East's largest steel producer, Mobarakeh Steel Group, has urged the Indian government to grant...
New Delhi [India], April 30 (ANI): The Rouse Avenue court on Wednesday allowed a revision petition moved by AAP leader Somnath Bharti....
From June 9–13, 2025, France and Costa Rica will co-host the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, bringing together...
Thane (Maharashtra) [India] May 1 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday lauded Prime Minister Narendra...
Pune (Maharashtra) [India], May 1 (ANI): Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar described the recent attack in Pahalgam as deeply...
Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 1 (ANI): India's recent agreement with France to procure 26 Rafale-Marine aircraft for its naval...
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 1 (ANI): Veteran actor Jackie Shroff on Thursday arrived on the opening day of the World Audio Visual...
Islamabad [Pakistan], May 1 (ANI): The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) in its annual highlighted a troubling decline in...