CAN 2021 qualifiers: the third and fourth days postponed

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

The African Football Confederation (CAF) postponed this Friday, March 13, the matches of the 3rd and 4th days of the CAN 2021 qualifiers, scheduled for the end of March. Several Federations and breeders had questioned CAF about the risk linked to the progression of the coronavirus worldwide.

Publicity

The question is no longer asked. CAF has finally postponed the 3rd and 4th days of the CAN 2021 qualifiers, scheduled for the end of March.

The coronavirus has been there. And above all, the too large number of players having to move between the European and African continent weighed in the balance as explained by the CAF press release. " Following the requalification of the current global health crisis of Covid-19 or Coronavirus, in a pandemic by the World Health Organization, also taking into account the difficulties of increasing travel around the world and aware that most of the players who make up our African teams play outside the continent, CAF considers that the organization of the CAN 2021 qualifying matches (3rd and 4th day) cannot be adequately ensured. Consequently, it decides to postpone the matches of the 3rd and 4th days to a later date . ” Depending on the evolution of the epidemic, CAF will then propose a new calendar.

Several countries on the continent affected by the Covid-19 pandemic

" Does CAF know that there is coronavirus in the world? Or maybe they take all the teams for guinea pigs? “, Called Claude Le Roy, Togo coach, at the start of the day. The Sparrowhawks coach put " the health of the players first ". Togo had to face Egypt, a country affected by the epidemic.

Burundi had already informed that players playing in Europe would not be summoned. A measure taken after the decision of the Ministry of Health which requires 14 days of quarantine for people arriving on Burundian soil. And the Burundian Football Federation had even appealed to CAF to " study the organization of these matches to allow the participation of all qualified players ".

In recent days, several countries on the continent affected by the now Covid-19 pandemic have taken drastic measures. Algeria has canceled all of its events, especially sports. Morocco, for its part, has decreed in camera for all football matches, as has Egypt. Madagascar, Rwanda and Kenya now ban all sports gatherings. Lesotho squarely suspends all international travel to and from its territory.

Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet also called for the postponement of the CAN 2021 qualifying matches scheduled for the end of March due to coronavirus. It has been heard.

The 2020 CAN Women's Qualifications, scheduled from April 6 to 14, 2020, as well as the U20 Women's World Cup Qualifications scheduled from March 20 to 29, 2020, are also postponed.

Newsletter With the Daily Newsletter, find the headlines directly in your mailbox

Download the app

• Sports
• Soccer
• CAN 2021