ZURICH: FIFA has awarded Niger a 3-0 victory by default in a 2014 World Cup qualifier because Gabon fielded an ineligible player.
FIFA says it confirmed the result after Gabon failed to file a proper appeal against a disciplinary committee decision which overturned a 0-0 draw in Niamey in June.
Congo heads the group with four points from two matches. Gabon and Niger have three points and last-place Burkina Faso has one.
FIFA ruled that midfielder Charly Moussono was ineligible for Gabon because he represented Cameroon at the 2006 Beach Soccer World Cup in Brazil.
However, Moussono also played four matches when technically ineligible at the 2012 African Cup of Nations as co-host Gabon reached the quarterfinals.
The Confederation of African Football has not overturned those results.
