CAN 2021: a resumption of qualifications in questions
Ivorian Gervinho.
AFP / FRANCOIS WALSCHAERTS
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 min
Qualifications for the 2021 African Cup of Nations are expected to resume on November 11, 2020 after a full year of hiatus largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
A recovery which promises to be always delicate, in particular because of the new coronavirus.
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From November 11 to 17, 2020, forty-eight qualifying matches for the 2021 African Cup of Nations are scheduled.
Can they all take place during this ten days reserved for national team matches?
In any case, it will have taken a full year for these CAN 2021 qualifiers to resume.
The 2nd day of the group stage dates back to November 2019. The 3rd and 4th days were brought forward to March 2020 so that the qualifications end in November 2020 and the final phase can take place in January 2021. But the new coronavirus has been there and CAN 2021 will finally be played in January 2022 ...
Closed-door matches and green carpet losses
The African Football Confederation (CAF) has taken drastic measures to avoid postponements during these third and fourth days.
The most emblematic?
Any team that does not have the capacity to play one of the two matches in its program because of the Covid-19 will be declared a 2-0 loser, except for exceptional recourse to the organizing committee of this competition.
The competing countries are therefore under pressure and some coaches, such as that of Madagascar, have publicly expressed concern.
Will the many African players who play in Europe in particular manage to get to Africa in time?
► To (re) read: CAN 2021: calendar, results, qualifying rankings
The other big question concerns the presence of supporters in the stands of the stadiums.
On this point, the CAF is less inflexible, even if it strongly encourages the camera to avoid the spread of Covid-19.
"
If the government of the host Association wishes the attendance of spectators, then the Association in question will have to obtain the approval of CAF,
" said a statement.
No shocks, but the first to qualify
?
Assuming the matches go off without a hitch, however, African football fans shouldn't see any big shocks in the coming days.
The main posters will be DR Congo - Angola (group D), Egypt - Togo (group G) and Côte d'Ivoire - Madagascar (group K).
On the other hand, we could know the first qualified for CAN 2021 in Cameroon.
Algeria, Ghana, Madagascar, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia already have six points on the clock.
In the event of a double success in November, these teams will have every chance of finishing in one of the first two qualifying places in their group.
►
To (re) read: CAN 2021: calendar of the 3rd and 4th qualifying days
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