Next year’s African Cup of Nations was postponed Tuesday to 2022 amid a backlog of matches attributable to the Corona Virus pandemic.
The Confederation of African Football mentioned the 24-team event in Cameroon will now open in January 2022. The 12 qualifying teams aren’t anticipated to be accomplished this yr.
“The date for the ultimate event and the remaining matches of the qualifiers shall be communicated in the end,” CAF mentioned in an announcement after an govt committee assembly.
It’s the second scheduling change this yr for the continental championship. It was initially set to be performed in June-July 2021, throughout Cameroon’s wet season, however was moved to the start of the yr.
The second change means golf equipment in Europe will retain their African gamers subsequent season with out being required to launch them for the January-February event.
In a separate determination, CAF canceled the 2020 Women’s African Cup of Nations “due to difficult circumstances” and can as a substitute launch a Women’s Champions League in 2021.
Qualifying for the lads’s African Cup was already delayed. African nationwide groups have but to play within the official FIFA-approved dates this yr and so they will not be ready to resume in October.
With 4 qualifying rounds nonetheless to be performed, solely 4 match dates are seemingly out there in October and November.
CAF first determined in January to deliver the 2021 event ahead by 5 months in additional dependable climate circumstances.
Cameroon had been due to stage the event in 2019 and defend its title at dwelling, however it was stripped of the event for issues with infrastructure and safety.
