AS FAR Rabat could have a coaching handicap when they host Mamelodi Sundowns in a CAF Champions League group stage encounter on Saturday.
The Moroccan outfit had a perfect start in Group B after beating local rivals Raja Casablanca 2-0 in their opening game last Tuesday.
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As a result, the Militarians lead the table by three points after Sundowns and AS Maniema Union of DRC played to a goalless draw in Tshwane.
Ahead of Saturday evening's fixture at Stade Ben Ahmed El Abdi, AS FAR could still be without head coach Hubert Velud, who was not on the bench against The Green Eagles due coaching licence issues.
"My absence is due to the fact that my license has not yet been validated," Velud revealed post-match.
"It's very difficult to give instructions from the stands."
CAF has been very strict with their coaching licence requirements, as a head coach of a club cannot sit on the bench without a CAF A Licence or a UEFA Pro Licence.
Assistant coaches are required to have at least a CAF B Licence.
Internet records show Nasreddine Nabi's successor to be having a UEFA Pro License, and it is unclear why CAF has not approved the French tactician yet.
South African coaches also struggled after the regulations were introduced last year, as SuperSport United's Gavin Hunt could not sit on the bench in their CAF Confederation Cup campaign, despite having a UEFA A Licence, which is not recognized by CAF.
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The likes of Cape Town City mentor Eric Tinkler could also not coach from the bench in the club's CAF Confederation Cup run in 2022/23 with only a UEFA A Licence, with his assistant Diogo Peral filling in.
It was not until November last year that the CAF A Licence course was offered by SAFA, which 25 coaches enrolled for, including Hunt, Tinkler and the likes of Steve Barker, who are now qualified to sit on the bench in CAF inter-club tournaments.