(CNN) -- Cape Verde has seen its hopes of qualifying for a first football World Cup dashed after the sport's global governing body FIFA punished the African country for fielding a suspended player. FIFA ruled on Thursday that Cape Verde's Fernando Varela had played in a qualifying match while serving a suspension for unsporting conduct. Varela played in a match against Tunisia in September which Cape Verde won 2-0. The result has now been officially reclassified as a 3-0 win for Tunisia. The decision means Tunisia have finished above Cape Verde in African qualifying Group B and will take its place in the forthcoming playoff matches to decide which five teams from the continent will qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
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Cape Verde will not play in the football World Cup following a FIFA sanction
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Governing body ruled the African country played an ineligible player against Tunisia
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Cape Verde won the match 2-0, but result has been reclassified as 3-0 Tunisia win
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Sanction means Tunisia replace Cape Verde in the African World Cup playoffs
The decision is a major blow for @placeholder, which has only ever played in one major international tournament.