The Confederation of African football (CAF) has made some major changes to African football due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Leading the changes, and which formed a critical core of today’s meeting is the Africa Cup of Nations, which has its original date changed. The Africa Cup of Nations will now take place in January/February AFCON 2022, one year from its initial date of January 2021.
The shift is coming at a time that some four more qualifying matches are left to be played. The decision also means Algeria will have to hold on to the trophy for one more year as current winners.
In other decisions taken on Tuesday, the Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) scheduled for April 2020 in Cameroon, has been moved to January 2021.
Also, the semi-finals of the African Champions League and Confederation Cup will be played over one leg instead of the normal home and away fixture. Both tournaments were in their semi-final stages when the games were postponed by CAF.
The CAF Champions League semi-final and final will take place in Cameroon while Morocco will have the opportunity to host the Confederation Cup semi- finalists and finalists of the Confederation Cup.
The African Women Cup of Nations which was scheduled to take place this year in Congo, has been cancelled in favour of a new Women’s Champions League in 2021.
The Africa Cup of Nations will now take place in 2022 to be followed by another one in 2023.
CAF also agreed that its 42nd Ordinary General Assembly be moved to December 2020, and to be held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia while the Elective General Assembly will be held in March, 2021.
CAF also said the 2020 CAF Awards have been cancelled, a decision the governing body says has the strong backing of its sponsors and partners.
By Sakyibea Ofori|3news.com|Ghana