Covid: where are the African national championships?

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

6 min

Where are the national football championships in Africa, five months after the almost total interruption of all competitions on the continent because of the coronavirus? Only a dozen leagues have resumed, while two-thirds of the countries have decided to definitively stop or cancel the 2019-2020 season. Overview, August 14.

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1 - THE SEASON HAS ENDED

In Burundi , the Championship and the National Cup have come to an end. The leaders of Burundian football have always displayed their difference, refusing to stop the Primus League (won by the Messenger of Ngozi), because of the Covid-19. The Burundians were therefore the first to carry out their competitions to the end, despite the health context.

The Tanzania is officially halted the first national championship because of Covid-19 to be resumed on June 13 Far ahead at the top of the standings, the Simba SC was champion. The season ended on July 26.

East Africa is definitely the most inclined sub-region since Somalia also relaunched its championship on June 18. A Championship gleaned by the Mogadishu City Club.

Competitions also restarted in Seychelles in early July and behind closed doors. And it was Foresters FC who took the opportunity to be sacred.

2 - THE SEASON HAS RESUMED

In South Africa , the ABSA Premiership restarted on August 11, after exactly five months of hiatus.

In Djibouti , the return took place at the end of July, as the Federation had announced.

In Egypt , despite a very difficult health context, Pyramids FC reopened the Premier League ball by dominating Tanta 3-0. Al Ahly is already very well on his way to being champion, with a very large accounting lead over his runner-up.

In Morocco , the fight for the title promises to be much tighter. A Botola who celebrated his comeback on August 10 with a 3-2 victory for Wydad Casablanca against Khouribga.

In Tunisia , the 17th, 18th and 19th day took place, since August 1st.

The Zanzibar Championship also resumed business on July 1. We are on the 20th day out of 24.

3- THE SEASON IS DEFINITELY ENDED

In Algeria , after extensive consultation with its players, football decided to stop the costs, awarding the title to Belouizdad. It must be said that the government was not in favor of a recovery ...

The Cameroon decided to stop everything, which makes the happiness of the PWD Bamenda national champion for the first time in its history.

In Congo-Brazzaville , AS Otoho was crowned, taking advantage of a frozen ranking.

In Congo-Kinshasa , same situation where it is Mazembe who saw his name registered on the charts.

In Côte d'Ivoire , the Federation in the midst of a crisis took its time to award the title to Racing Club Abidjan and stop the Ligue 1 season, interrupted after 20 days.

In Kenya , the situation remains complex. The President of the Federation (FKF) decreed the premature end of the Championship and the coronation of Gor Mahia without the approval of the League. The two bodies have been in conflict for several weeks. The FKF expects the 2020-2021 season to start in October.

In Rwanda , the RPA is the champion. Heroes FC and Gicumbi FC are relegated.

Finally, the case of Zambia is definitely separate. The Super League resumed in mid-July before stopping prematurely and definitively in early July. The health context had become too uncertain. Nkana was crowned champion.

Other countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Uganda, Togo

4 - THE SEASON IS CANCELED

In Angola , it was decided on April 30 to cancel the Girabola. Petro Atletico is not crowned champion but will represent his country in the Champions League, with Primeiro de Agosto.

The Burkina Faso followed suit a few days later. No champion for the 2019-2020 fiscal year.

The Benin took his time before deciding, June 29

In the Central African Republic , everything was canceled even though the season had almost come to an end.

In Gabon , policymakers have long hesitated, leaning in favor of a recovery. Before throwing in the towel on July 9.

The Guinea has decided to freeze all: mounted or relegation.

The Niger has also opted for a white season.

The Nigeria preferred to stop the expenses and focus on the start of the 2020-2021 season in September or October.

In Senegal , we worked for a recovery in November, before making a 180-degree turn, the situation remaining uncertain. Teungueth, FC leader before the suspension of the season, will represent the country in the Champions League.

Other countries: Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Libya *, Mauritius, Sierra Leone, South Sudan

5 - THE END OF THE SEASON IS POSTPONED

In Madagascar , the resumption of the Orange Pro League, set for a time on August 20, seems less and less likely. The players of the round ball should decide before the end of the month.

In Mali , it's decided, we will play again from August 21. We will play the last day of the regular season, before continuing with a final phase.

In Mauritania , players will once again be on the lawns of the Super D1 from September 4. The matches will be played behind closed doors.

In Sudan , the Federation is determined to resume this August 15, but the Minister of Sports is against it. Who will have the last word ?

Other countries: Eswatini, Malawi, Chad, Zimbabwe *

6 - NO FINAL DECISIONS YET

In Namibia , no decision has been announced regarding the fate of the 2020 season but there is little doubt about it: not only had it not yet started, but in addition the Professional League was excluded from the list of members of the Federation. More trouble ahead ...

Other countries: Mozambique *, Sao Tome and Principe *

* In Libya, Mozambique, Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe and Zimbabwe, the championship had not resumed before the coronavirus crisis.
** Information withheld for Eritrea and Guinea-Bissau.

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