CAN 2021: Cameroon and CAF organize to sweep away European criticism

The trophy awarded to the winner of the CAN.

AFP - DANIEL BELOUMOU OLOMO

Text by: Alejandro Valente

2 min

Cameroon and the African Football Confederation (CAF) have unveiled the outlines of the health protocol during the next African Cup of Nations (CAN 2021), scheduled from January 9 to February 6, 2022. The Secretary General of CAF also indicates that players playing in England will be able to join their national team later, again responding to the criticisms of European clubs towards CAN 2021.

Advertising

Read more

After threats from Europe, the response is being organized on the side of the African Football Confederation (

) which strongly confirms that the African Cup of Nations will be held in Cameroon from January 9.

Because CAF did not appreciate the attitude of the European Association of Clubs (ECA), chaired by the boss of Paris Saint-Germain, Nasser Al Khelaïfi, and bringing together most of the major European clubs.

African players from England may arrive later

In a letter addressed to the International Football Federation (

),

releasing the players summoned to the CAN from December 27, date on which the English championship is in full swing with the famous boxing day.

CAF Secretary General Véron Mosengo-Omba confirmed to RFI on December 16 that he had made a gesture towards English football by authorizing African players to play with their clubs on the day of the championship scheduled for January 1 and 2, with including a Chelsea-Liverpool explosive.

A precise and reinforced health protocol

But it is above all the health aspect of

that worried the European clubs.

And here again, CAF has some weighty arguments: daily checks will be organized for all those who, players or not, will have access to the playing fields. Tests which will be carried out by Unilab, a leading laboratory which had been selected for the last Euro.

Likewise, only vaccinated and tested spectators will have access to the stands.

Measures likely to reassure European clubs and push FIFA to sanction clubs that refuse to release their players ...

Newsletter

Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

I subscribe

Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application

google-play-badge_FR

• Soccer

• CAN 2021

• Cameroon

• Sports