Taïeb Mhiri faces CAF inspection over continental approval

Taïeb Mhiri is to be inspected by an expert appointed by the Confederation of African Football as part of the process to approve the stadium for continental matches. The expert is due to arrive in Sfax on Saturday and assess whether the ground meets the required criteria. The report will be decisive in the outcome of the process.

Farhat Brik, secretary-general of the Sfax municipality, said on Thursday evening that the expert would attend the first-leg match in the fifth round of the Ligue professionnelle 1 championship between Taqaddom Sakiet Eddaïer and Club sportif sfaxien. The inspection of the work carried out at the stadium is then due to continue on Sunday.

Ahead of the visit, the Sfax municipality sent a complete preliminary file to the Confederation of African Football on Wednesday, in coordination with the Tunisian Football Federation, Club sportif sfaxien and the other parties involved. The submission included photographs and videos and set out the work completed to meet the approval requirements. The Confederation had given the file preliminary approval, allowing the expert’s visit to be scheduled.

The inspection is expected to take place over Saturday and Sunday. Brik hopes the report will be positive: that would allow the stadium to regain continental approval, host the Tunisia national team’s match against Libya, and stage Club sportif sfaxien’s matches in the group stage of African competitions.