The Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Emergency Committee has postponed from June to September, the start of qualifiers for next year’s World Cup in Qatar.
By Ibrahima Dione
CAF on its website invokes “the taking into account of the challenges of managing Covid-19 and the concern to guarantee optimal playing conditions for all participating teams.”
Together with the International Federation of Football Associations (Fifa), the governing body of African football has decided to organize its matches “during the September, October and November 2021 international window, as well as March 2022.”
The first two rounds were initially slated for June 2021.
“All the details relating to the updated schedule of matches will be communicated later,” according to CAF.
This news will send relief to football federations across Africa given that no stadium was cleared to host the matches.
Senegal, like 21 other blacklisted countries, has more time to improve football infrastructure to meet international sporting standards.
CAF is also reassessing “its processes and protocols to improve the implementation of controls related to Covid-19, including pre-match tests, which have been controversial in previous windows.”
The “final” game between Benin and Sierra Leone, as part of the 6th and last round of qualifiers for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON), could not take place.
On March 30, Benin’s Squirrels had accused the host country of tampering with the Covid-19 tests carried out on top players of the squad.
ID/fss/as/APA