Burkina Faso dropped a second player from its African Cup of Nations squad after doubts over his eligibility as a hearing began into the team's place at the tournament.
Burkina Faso Football Federation spokesperson Abi Ouattara said on Friday that defender Stephane Agbre was not with the squad at a training camp because the player's eligibility was not finalized.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport also began hearing an appeal by Namibia on Friday after Cameroon-born defender Herve Zengue played for Burkina Faso against the southern Africans in qualifying matches.
Namibia wants Burkina Faso thrown out of the Jan. 21-Feb. 12 continental championship because of Zengue.
Agbre, who was born in Ivory Coast, was named in coach Paulo Duarte's initial Cup of Nations training squad in December, when the controversial Zengue was left out. But Agbre has not traveled with the squad to a camp in Cameroon.
''Stephane is not with us because the procedures for his Burkina Faso nationality have not ended,'' Ouattara said by telephone from Cameroon. ''We do not want to take a risk.''
Namibia failed with two appeals to the Confederation of African Football after it lost 4-0 and 4-1 to Burkina Faso in Cup of Nations qualifying last year, when Zengue was in the Burkinabe team. It then took its case to CAS.
Namibian officials believe Zengue, who got a Burkinabe passport after marrying a local woman, does not meet FIFA eligibility rules to play for his adopted country. Namibia finished second behind Burkina Faso in their group and wants to take its place at the continental showpiece.
CAS has not said how long the Namibia appeal will take but a fast-track case is likely with the African Cup kicking off in two weeks.
