It will have eventually suffered the same fate as its cousins the european or south american – the Euro and the Copa America, now scheduled for the summer of 2021. The Africa Cup of nations (CAN), originally scheduled from 9 January to 6 February 2021 in Cameroon, has been pushed back a year and will therefore take place in January 2022. Algeria, who won the last edition of the tournament in the summer of 2019, to remain holder of the title for an additional year.
“A decision taken in the best interest of our football”
The Africa Cup of nations will therefore not be an exception. Met by video conference on Tuesday to discuss the future of the african competitions and other related issues, in a context marked by the pandemic Covid-19, the executive committee of the Confederation of african football (CAF) has formalized the postponement of CAN 2021. The african competition will be held, therefore, still in Cameroon, but in January 2022, with nine months of the World in Qatar (November 21-December 18, 2022).
The Executive Committee of the CAF met on June 30, 2020 by videoconference to discuss the future of the african competitions and other related issues, in a context marked by the pandemic COVID-19. At the end of the meeting, the following decisions were taken:
— CAF – EN (@caf_online_FR) June 30, 2020
“It is a decision taken in the interest of our football,” said Ahmad Ahmad, president of CAF, during a virtual press conference. The priority is to ” protect the athletes, officials, staff in the clubs and federations and the public. “A report is also motivated by the uncertainty that hovers around the qualifications for the competition, since every selection must still play four matches in order to win his ticket for the final phase.
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A sporting calendar in upheaval
With the postponement of the flagship tournament on the african continent, Ahmad Ahmad, the president of the FCA, also announced adjustments to the calendar for other competitions african. Thus, the African nations Championship (CHAN), who is struggling selections composed exclusively of players playing on the continent, will be organized in the month of January 2021, in place of her big sister.
in addition, Ahmad Ahmad has endorsed the CAN female, which was to take place in 2020 and will be replaced in 2021 by a champions League women. It will, however, be played again in 2022. Finally, the champions League and the Cup of CAF (equivalent of the african champions League and the Europa League), interrupted at the stage of semi-finals, should be concluded in the form of meetings to eliminate the direct, behind closed doors.
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For Cameroon, the postponement of the Africa Cup of nations 2021 is obviously a blow hard. The countries of central Africa, was originally scheduled to host the CAN 2019, but the organization had been withdrawn due to the delay on the construction works of the stadiums. This time, it is due to the coronavirus that the indomitable Lions will have to wait before welcoming their second CAN, after the 1972. We’ll see you in 2022 !
