The Caf appeals committee, which met in Johannesburg, found no new reasons to overturn the disqualification, announced last month after the South African club failed to turn up for their first round second leg game in Madagascar.

Chiefs beat US Transfoot of Madagascar 4-0 in the first leg in Johannesburg but did not travel for the return match, saying they were unable to secure a flight to the Indian Ocean island.

Chiefs cited political strife in Madagascar, which had caused the airport in Antananarivo to be temporarily closed and flight schedules from Johannesburg to be reduced.

But Caf said Chiefs had failed to make adequate arrangements in time and added that the referees and match commissioner had been able to travel for the match.

Another Caf Cup match in Antananarivo the same weekend also went ahead.

US Transfoot will now play Jeanne d'Arc of Reunion in the second round, with the first leg in Reunion on Saturday. The return match will be played a week later in Antananarivo.