Earthquake postponement tests Independiente Santa Fe vs River

Independiente Santa Fe’s round‑of‑16 tie with River in the Copa Sudamericana has been postponed after CONMEBOL suspended the first leg because of recent earthquakes in Colombia, moving the fixtures to the 19th and 26th of this month, president Eduardo Méndez confirmed.

River was set to travel to Bogotá for the first leg of the Copa Sudamericana round of 16 on Wednesday, but the match was suspended. The postponement left both clubs without a confirmed date for the decisive encounter.

Earthquakes force CONMEBOL decision

CONMEBOL acted after the seismic events that struck Colombia, deciding to delay the game by a week. The new dates are scheduled for the 19th and the 26th of this month.

Méndez insists match stays in Bogotá

“No hay motivo para salir de la capital. La ciudad no se vio afectada por ese desastre, pero gran parte del país está hoy dolorido. Tenemos que ser muy solidarios con nuestros coterráneo's,” said president Eduardo Méndez, speaking to TyC Sports.

He added, “Aunque se sintió el temblor, no vimos afectados. Ayer (por este lunes) las autoridades dieron el visto bueno de que el estadio no había sufrido ninguna alteración y en la ciudad está todo normal y se está trabajando.”

“Nosotros estábamos esperando que CONMEBOL se pronunciara. Es el máximo ente y teníamos que aceptar lo que ellos dispusieran,” Méndez explained, emphasizing the club’s respect for the governing body’s authority.

Regarding the sporting challenge, Méndez said, “Es un desafío y enfrentar a un grande es bueno. Queríamos que fuera mañana (por el miércoles), pero desafortunadamente no se pudo.”

River currently sits at the bottom of Zone B in the Torneo Clausura with no points or goals, and must play Argentinos Juniors on Sunday at the Monumental, seeking its first points. Forward Thiago Almada is already listed in the Sudamericana squad.

Independiente Santa Fe occupies 11th place in the Liga Dimayor, one match behind rivals, and a win could lift them to fifth or sixth depending on other results. Their first‑choice goalkeeper is injured and will miss the series regardless of the new dates, while coach Pablo Repetto prepares his side for a historic Argentine showdown.

The week‑long delay means both clubs now have roughly two weeks to gauge whether Eduardo Coudet’s River can overcome the setback or Independiente Santa Fe will exploit the situation to advance.