Coronavirus: high-level football almost stopped in Africa

The players of the Congolese club, Tout Puissant Mazembe. AFP / STR

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

Most African national championships have been put on hold in recent days, following the postponement of the eliminations for CAN 2021 and that of CHAN 2020. Only a few leagues (Angola, Burundi, Mozambique, etc.) continue their activities.

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It was to be the final stretch before the resumption of qualifications for the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2021). But the 3rd and 4th playoff days, scheduled between March 25 and 31, have been postponed indefinitely due to the coronavirus pandemic. Then it was the turn of the second most important football competition on the continent, the African Nations Championship (CHAN 2020) scheduled from April 4 to 25 in Cameroon, to be postponed.

Since then, many national federations have followed in the footsteps of the African Football Confederation. Some have been precursors such as those of Morocco, DR Congo or Senegal. Others have just spoken during the past 48 hours, such as those from Togo (March 17), Benin (March 18) or the Central African Republic (March 19). All of them will meet football fans in a few weeks. Without guarantee that the season can resume and go to its end ...

Some championships continue

Youth and women's competitions are also suffering from the spread of Covid-19 . But some federations have taken the opposite view from CAF, judging the health situation of their country sufficiently satisfactory. This is for example the case of Burundi where the FFB decided " to continue the various competitions in progress, by establishing a system of improvement of hygiene on the various stages of competition, and other places of sporting gathering of football " .

This is also the case in Malawi " where the championship will take place as planned, following the green light from the government, " a source told rfi.fr. In Comoros and Rwanda, matches will be played behind closed doors. In Mozambique, only a small number of spectators (300 maximum) will be admitted during the matches.

In total, less than fifteen national championships are still running in Africa. Some had to stop (Burkina Faso) or end (Chad) anyway these days.

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