As for the Euro and the Olympic Games, the original calendar for CAN-2021 will not have withstood the health crisis linked to Covid-19. The next African Cup of Nations, initially scheduled for January in Cameroon, will be held there a year later.
There will therefore have been no miracle. Like the Euro, Copa America or even the Olympic Games, the 2021 African Cup of Nations could not escape a postponement. The decision was taken Tuesday, June 30, by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The CAF executive committee, meeting in videoconference due to the Covid-19 pandemic, was invited to decide on the resumption of African competitions in the coming weeks. The continent’s flagship tournament, the CAN-2021 was finally postponed by one year. It will therefore be held in January 2022, still in Cameroon.
Qualifications still in progress
A decision generally expected since the qualification of the next CAN could not even have been completed due to the health crisis. The option of a conclusion in October-November had been discussed for a time.
Algeria, the title holder after its triumph in Egypt in the summer of 2019, will symbolically retain the continental crown for one more year.
The CHAN from 2021, the CAN for women is canceled
In addition to the discussions on CAN-2021, CAF also approved the holding of CHAN in Cameroon. The African championship of nations which involves selections composed only of players evolving on the continent, will be organized in January 2021 in place of his big sister.
The 2020 African Cup of Nations, however, did not survive the postponements. The tournament, whose qualifications were still in progress, had no host country since the withdrawal of Congo-Brazzaville in July 2019.
Few surprises for club competitions
On the club side, the CAF announcement should be a little less difficult to swallow. In line with decisions taken elsewhere, particularly in Europe, it was decided to maintain the Champions League and the CAF Cup. The two tournaments, which were stopped at the semi-final stage, are expected to conclude in the form of elimination matches, behind closed doors.
Finally, the body unveiled the creation of a new competition by 2021, with the establishment of a Women’s Champions League. An announcement that should somewhat temper the decision to cancel CAN-2020, which promised to be the most ambitious in the history of women’s football in Africa, with 12 selections against 8 against so far.
