Covid-19: CAF postpones 2021 AFCON, 2020 CHAN

Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja

African football governing body, the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) rose from its Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday with a far reaching decisions on the continent’s football activities.

Among the crucial decisions taken at the CAF President Ahmad Ahmad led

Executive Committee meeting held  on Tuesday, June 30,  2020, via video-conference are the postponement by one year of the Total Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), Cameroon 2021.

According to the statement made available to the media to the media by CAF Media Department in Cairo, Egypt, the African football ruling body said the decisions were arrived at after due consultations.

“After consultation with stakeholders and taking into consideration the current global situation, the tournament has been rescheduled for January 2022. The date for the final tournament and the remaining matches of the qualifiers will be communicated in due course”, CAF statement read.

On Total African Nations Championship (CHAN), Cameroon 2020, CAF said the final tournament has been postponed till January 2021 in Cameroon.

“The CAF Executive Committee is satisfied with t the Cameroonian authorities for their commitment towards the hosting of the two competitions. Cameroon is ready to host either competition and are within schedule,” CAF President Ahmad Ahmad said.

On CAF Interclubs 2019/20 season, it said the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup, will resume in September with a Final Four (4) format, adding that the Semi-Final matches will be played in a single match.

Also, CAF Champions League venue for Final Four is to be decided while  Morocco will host the Final Four of the CAF Confederation Cup.

Although CAF kept mute on the 2020 FIFA U-17 and U-20 Women’s World Cup African qualifiers after announcing the postponement of the 2020 African Women’s Cup of Nations (AWCON), it said that the Zonal Qualifiers for U-20 & U-17 Africa Cup of Nations will be made public at later date.

“A meeting with the Organising Competitions for Youth Football and the Zonal Unions has been proposed to finalize the arrangements for the zonal qualifiers. Meanwhile, the U-17 AFCON will take place in July 2021”, CAF statement read.

On Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2020, it said following the withdrawal of Uganda, a new hosting bid will be launched for the organization of the final tournament either in 2020 or 2021.

On CAF Cairo  Headquarters Agreement, CAF President Ahmad commended the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt under the leadership of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who appended his signature to the 10-year agreement on 24 June 2020.

Said he, “With the new agreement, CAF and its officials will benefit from immunities and privileges granted to diplomatic missions in the territory of the Arab Republic of Egypt in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention”.

On the  forthcoming CAF Ordinary General Assembly, it said

the 42nd CAF Ordinary General Assembly has been rescheduled for December 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia just as it said that by the recommendations of the CAF Governance Committee, the Elective General Assembly will be held on 12 March 2021.

Meanwhile, the African football governing body said CAF Awards 2020 has been cancelled, stating that the cancellation of the 2020 edition did not affect the relationship between it and the partners.

“Major partners for the event, Pickalbatros Group, has re-affirmed their contractual commitment towards the next two (2) editions”, the statement said.

On Financial Support to Member Associations, the statement said:

“CAF has allocated an additional USD 16.2 Million to assist Member Associations to mitigate challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Member Associations will be entitled to USD 300,000”.

On the appointment of a Commercial Director, it announced the confirmation of the appointment of Ali Aissaoui as Commercial Director. Prior to joining CAF, the Moroccan served as Business Development Manager of FC Barcelona.

Giving update on Transform CAF 2021, CAF statement said:

“There has been giant stride in the execution of Transform CAF 2021 which was launched during the CAF Executive Committee in Doha, Qatar, last February. The CAF Administration will continue with the implementation of the major points towards achieving the targets of the project”.