The Confederation of African Football has turned down an appeal from African champions, Accra Hearts of Oak’s for the replacement of the Angolan match officials for their second leg first round match against Etoile du Congo tomorrow in Brazzaville.

A response from CAF to the Ghana Football Association yesterday indicated that Hearts has no option but to make do with the Angolan officials. According to the football controlling body, the appointment of referees for the match was made about three months ago.

Besides, CAF explained that, Hearts lodged its protest pretty late-“only five days to the match and it could not have been possible for anything to be done”.

A letter from CAF Secretariat in Cairo signed by Mustapha Fahmy added that Hearts’ case was not an exception.

“It happens in many international competitions organised by FIFA and UEFA where the appointed referees belong to a team which is scheduled to meet the winner of a certain match” the CAF Secretary stated.

In another development, the Ghana Football Association has sent a protest letter to CAF on the inhuman treatment meted out to Hearts in Brazzaville by officials of the Congolese club.

The match commissioner for the game was also allegedly abandoned at the Maya-Maya Airport for several hours.