SUITA, Japan (AP) — Representing South America at the Club World Cup has added significance following the plane crash that killed most of the Chapecoense team, Atletico Nacional defender Felipe Aguilar said Tuesday.
The Colombian club was to play Chapecoense in the Copa Sudamericana final but the Brazilian team's plane crashed on Nov. 28, killing almost all on board.
The directors of Atletico asked the governing body of South American soccer to award the Copa Sudamericana title to Chapecoense.
"We felt like brothers to the Brazilian team." Aguilar said. "And all of us were very happy to give them the Copa Sudamericana title.