CAS strips Sudan of World Cup qualifier win

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -Sudan has lost top spot in its 2014 World Cup qualifying group after sport's highest court stripped a victory against Zambia for fielding an ineligible player.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport says it rejected the Sudanese Football Association's appeal against a FIFA ruling to award Zambia a 3-0 win by default.

CAS says Sudanese officials "couldn't not be aware of the fact that'' Saif Ali was suspended and ineligible to face Zambia last June.

Ali scored in Sudan's 2-0 win in Khartoum, four months after being sent off when the same teams played an African Cup of Nations quarterfinal.

The court's ruling puts Zambia top with six points from two matches, three ahead of Ghana. Sudan falls to third with one point. Lesotho also has one point.