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The next final phase of the African Cup of Nations (CAN 2021) should finally take place in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6 rather than June / July. The Cameroonian authorities and the African Football Confederation (CAF) have agreed on a possible change of dates, this January 15, 2020 in Yaoundé, officially due to the rainy season in this region of the continent.
Back to square one. Except big surprise, the CAN should be disputed again during its predilection period, in January / February, from 2021, after an African Cup of Nations organized for the first time in June / July, in 2019 in Egypt, will announce the African Football Confederation (CAF) and the Cameroonian authorities, this January 15, 2020. Presumably from January 9 to February 6.
This change must still be discussed at the next meeting of the CAF Executive Committee, which should take place on the sidelines of the African Futsal Cup (January 28 to February 7 in Laayoune).
The climatic conditions highlighted
Officially, this choice is dictated by weather conditions "in summer" in Cameroon. This decision could also be renewed for CAN 2023 (Ivory Coast) and CAN 2025 (Guinea), insofar as it is also the rainy season in a good part of West Africa , at this time of year. But there was absolutely no question of the next two final stages, in Yaoundé.
In the introduction of a CAF-Cameroon meeting on Wednesday, the Minister of Sports and Physical Education (Minsep) implied that the period was not favorable for playing football. " Throughout the territory, from North to South, from East to West, [...] the period from June to September - I speak under the control of the director of meteorology [...] - corresponds to the great rainy season , said Professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi. In Douala, for example, during this period, it rains daily ”.
Half a surprise
This likely backtrack is half a surprise. A few weeks earlier, CAF President Ahmad had highlighted a weather problem. " In Africa, summer in the north of the continent has nothing to do with summer in the south ," said the Malagasy, in an interview with RFI . Someone would have to verify my declaration at the Rabat symposium when we announced a 24-team CAN in July. I've always said we have to be flexible with the weather . ”
The boss of African football has in any case been satisfied with the preparations for the African Championship of Nations (CHAN 2020, from April 4 to 25), a tournament reserved for local players, as well as for CAN 2021. " I I am convinced that the Cameroonian people will live this African Cup in exceptional popular fervor because the passion for football that exists in this country is unique, incomparable, inimitable , he started. Regarding the various sites of CAN 2021, I can tell you that the trend is optimism. […] I close by continuing to strongly encourage you on this positive path of good preparation, by assuring you of the continued support of the African Football Confederation ”.
Constant changes
This decision is in any case a new episode of the incredible soap opera of the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon. In September 2014, CAF, then chaired by Cameroonian Issa Hayatou, awarded the organization of CAN 2019 to the country of Samuel Eto'o. There was then talk of a 16-team competition in January / February. But in July 2017, the new management of CAF had decided that the CAN would now compete with 24 selections in June / July. The Cameroonians had accepted this major change in the specifications. But, too late in the preparations, they had been withdrawn from the organization of CAN 2019 and assigned that of CAN 2021 instead. A tournament which was to take place in June / July… A period during which there will also be the brand new Club World Cup imagined by the International Football Federation (FIFA). In short, an almost crippling competition for the major event of African sport…