The African Football Confederation (CAF) announced Tuesday (June 30th) the postponement to January 2022 of the African Cup of Nations initially scheduled for Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2021, due to the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus.
"Health is the top priority", said CAF President Ahmad Ahmad at a videoconference press conference, adding that "The peak of the pandemic has not been reached" in several countries on the African continent. CAF thus followed the examples of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) and the South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) which, as of March, postponed their respective flagship competitions for a year, the Euro and Copa America.
The tournament will still take place in Cameroon with 24 teams, while the qualifications, started before the pandemic, could not be completed. The next edition of the CAN will be maintained in 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire, said Mr. Ahmad.
In addition to the postponement of this competition, which takes place every two years, the president of CAF also announced calendar arrangements for other African competitions, including the African Championship of Nations, the Champions League and the Cup. of the confederation.
"Proud to see the birth of a Women's Champions League on the African continent"
The Champions League will be over "This year, probably in September"said President Ahmad, with a location to be determined for the "Final Four". The Confederation Cup should also be completed this year with a “Final Four” in Morocco. These last two competitions, which in Africa are equivalent to the Champions League and the Europa League, were interrupted in March at the semi-finals.
The 2020 African Nations Championship in Cameroon – which pits national teams of players from their home countries – has been postponed to January 2021.
In addition, President Ahmad Ahmad announced the cancellation of the Women's CAN which was to take place in 2020 and which will be replaced in 2021 by a Women's Champions League. "I want to express my pride in seeing the birth of a Women's Champions League on the African continent"said Ahmad, adding that it was a landmark decision for African and world football.
African countries have suffered to varying degrees from the coronavirus pandemic. With the exception of Burundi, all African countries stopped competing in March, as did most countries on the planet.