CAN 2021: Qualifications will not resume in September

The Stade Paul Biya in Yaoundé. WikiCommons / Criszap89

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

The International Football Federation (FIFA) announced on June 25, 2020 that qualification for the 2021 African Cup of Nations will not resume in September. A decision that could threaten the holding of the final phase in Cameroon on the scheduled dates (January 9-February 6).

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The International Football Federation (FIFA) has not ruined hopes of seeing the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon take place as scheduled from January 9 to February 6. But FIFA has reduced the chances of attending CAN 2021 on June 25, 2020 in six months.

The FIFA Council has indeed decided to "  postpone  " the international truce of September, on which the African Football Confederation (CAF) counted greatly to advance qualifications blocked two days (out of six) because of the pandemic of Covid-19. Meaning explain when it would be postponed.

Extensive qualifications… in June 2021

A decision by FIFA concerning CAF and three other confederations (Asia, Concacaf and Oceania), but not Europe (UEFA) or South America (Conmebol). In October and November 2020, UEFA will even have the right to play additional international matches.

On the other hand, FIFA announced that CAF (among other things) would benefit from seven additional days in June 2021 to have four playoff days instead of the two initially scheduled. Which should allow Africa to advance in the qualifications for the 2022 World Cup. Or in those for the next CAN if it is postponed to January 2022… A decision that could be made by the CAF Executive Committee, which meets on June 30.

The African Football Confederation will indeed face a dilemma. Should she bet everything on the FIFA windows of October and November to complete the qualifications in time, with all the uncertainties linked to the coronavirus? Or should it resolve to reschedule its flagship competition to June 2021 or January 2022 to guard against possible disillusionment in a few weeks?

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