The build up to the sixth edition of the Futsal AFCON has been blighted by South Africa’s withdrawal, supposedly over a diplomatic fallout between the two countries. The continent’s top indoor football nations will converge in Laâyoune for the tournament that will see three teams book their participation at the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) Futsal World Cup in Lithuania in September-October, 2020.

However, the SAFA boss, on Thursday, said that they would honour the invite to attend a study day on the development of football infrastructure and a CAF Executive meeting on February 1 and 2 at the iconic Mohammed VI Football Complex of Maâmora in Salé, a city in north-western Morocco. “I have received the invite and I will definitely be attending,” he said.

SAFA's drive to take the country’s game a notch higher will get a boost when they exchange notes with other African federations during the study day organised by FIFA in conjunction with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

The Royale Moroccan Football Federation this week confirmed they were expecting “over 200 representatives of African football associations expected to attend” including Ghana. FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and his CAF counterpart Ahmad Ahmad will also be in attendance.

Past World Cup hosts, South Africa and Brazil are battling to manage stadia from the 2010 and 2014 global soccer showpiece. Four cities in Brazil have under-used stadia like the $550 million 72,000-seater Mare Garrincha in Brasilia, which recently hosted a game for 400 spectators.

South Africa spent $1.1 billion on its 2010 World Cup venues, some of which are reportedly losing money. Meanwhile, South Africa has been replaced by Mauritius in the Futsal AFCON finals that run from Tuesday until February 7. Hosts, Morocco, are the defending champions and will face off with Libya, Equatorial Guinea and debutantes Mauritius in Group A.

Group B pits record three-time champions Egypt, Guinea, Angola and Mozambique. “We are delighted as a country to be hosting this event. We believe because of our readiness and existing facilities, CAF has seen it fit for us to once again play host to one of their prestigious tournaments where the top three coming from this tournament will head to the World Cup in Lithuania later this year,” read a Morocco Royal Football Federation statement.