2021 AFCON Could Return To January Due To ‘Climactic Conditions’

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2021 AFCON Could Return To January Due To ‘Climactic Conditions’ — Ahmad

By Daily Sports on December 25, 2019

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) President, Ahmad has told Insideworldfootball in Doha, Qatar, that a firm decision on the timing of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, to be staged in Cameroun, will be taken during CAF’s next executive committee meeting.

When asked whether a move back to January/February, for the 2021 AFCON, is the preferred and most practical alternative, the Malagasy said it appeared to be the case.

According to the current calendar, the revamped FIFA Club World Cup would begin on June 17 and end on July 4, five days before the scheduled start of the AFCON. The closeness between the two competitions ensures that several national teams on the continent will not have their key players for the traditional two-week camping period, before the kick-off of Africa’s most important football event.

“When we took the decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations to June, which we did for the last tournament in Egypt, we have always said that we need to have some flexibility over the dates,” Ahmad told this reporter, during a breakfast conversation, hours before the final of the FIFA Club World Cup.

“This is because of the different climatic conditions in the continent. I don’t know why the media has forgotten that this was discussed in detail, at the 2017 CAF symposium that we had in Morocco.”

“In my view, it is not possible, because of the climatic conditions in Cameroon, to stage the Africa Cup of Nations in June/July. This is clear, so we must take a decision on the date,” Ahmad said.

Gianni Infantino, FIFA’s President, has been repeatedly criticised, within influential African football circles, for not taking the AFCON into consideration and respecting the continent’s long-standing traditions, when scheduling the 2021 Club World Cup. But Ahmad insists Infantino has not disrespected African football.

“There are certainly Europeans that have no respect or regard for African football. But Gianni is not amongst them,” Ahmad said. “Gianni loves African football. He really wants to see African football develop. His concern for our development is genuine. Yet, some people say that he has no respect for African football.” (The Guardian)

•PHOTO: Ahmad Ahmad

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 25, 2019