Afcon 2021 dates changed
The Brave Warriors' Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2021 qualifying matches have been brought forward after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) changed the hosting dates from June-July to the beginning of the year.
A letter sent to all CAF member general secretaries on 15 January said following a meeting on Wednesday, the organising committee, including stakeholders, representatives and the host country Cameroon, decided to move the finals dates from the June-July slot to 9 January to 6 February 2021 because of the unfavourable weather in the country at that time of year.
The new dates coincide with the Cameroonian rainy season.
The 2019 tournament in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer.
Before that, the showpiece had been held in January and February, clashing with the European domestic season.
Cameroon had been scheduled to host the 2019 Cup of Nations but was stripped of the honour in November 2018.
At the time, CAF said the decision had been made because of delays in the progress of Cameroon's preparations.
The tournament was scheduled to take place in June and July but was changed.
It said, consequently, in order to accommodate this change, CAF has decided to modify the dates of the qualifiers of the Total Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 and the Federation of International Football Associations World Cup, Qatar 2022 qualifiers.
This means the Brave Warriors back-to-back away and home ties against Mali will now be played between 23 and 31 March 2020 instead of 31 August and 08 September, with the away trip to Chad to take place during the 01 to 09 June international break.
The Brave Warriors' final 2021 Afcon qualifier against Guinea at home will now be played during the September international break.
NAMPA
A letter sent to all CAF member general secretaries on 15 January said following a meeting on Wednesday, the organising committee, including stakeholders, representatives and the host country Cameroon, decided to move the finals dates from the June-July slot to 9 January to 6 February 2021 because of the unfavourable weather in the country at that time of year.
The new dates coincide with the Cameroonian rainy season.
The 2019 tournament in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer.
Before that, the showpiece had been held in January and February, clashing with the European domestic season.
Cameroon had been scheduled to host the 2019 Cup of Nations but was stripped of the honour in November 2018.
At the time, CAF said the decision had been made because of delays in the progress of Cameroon's preparations.
The tournament was scheduled to take place in June and July but was changed.
It said, consequently, in order to accommodate this change, CAF has decided to modify the dates of the qualifiers of the Total Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 and the Federation of International Football Associations World Cup, Qatar 2022 qualifiers.
This means the Brave Warriors back-to-back away and home ties against Mali will now be played between 23 and 31 March 2020 instead of 31 August and 08 September, with the away trip to Chad to take place during the 01 to 09 June international break.
The Brave Warriors' final 2021 Afcon qualifier against Guinea at home will now be played during the September international break.
NAMPA
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