This archive report was first published on 1 July 2020.
On July 1, 2020, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced that the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Cameroon in January and February 2021, would be postponed to 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to CAF President Ahmad Ahmad, the decision was made with health as the top priority, as many African countries have been severely affected by the pandemic. South Africa has reported over 144,000 cases, while Egypt has seen over 66,000 infections.
"The peak of the pandemic has not been reached yet," Ahmad added, emphasizing the need for caution.
Other CAF competitions, including the CAF Champions League and the Confederation Cup, have also been affected by the pandemic. The CAF Champions League will complete its matches in September, while the Confederation Cup will wrap up towards the end of the year with a 'Final Four' in Morocco.
The African Nations Championship for domestic-based players, scheduled to take place in Cameroon in January 2021, has also been postponed.
Additionally, CAF has cancelled its star-studded awards ceremony, featuring players like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, and the women's Cup of Nations, which was scheduled to take place in November.
However, CAF has announced the launch of a new club competition for 2021, which Ahmad described as a "proud moment" for African football.
CAF has also received a $1.5 billion relief fund from FIFA to help national and continental federations cope with the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. An additional $16.2 million has been allocated to assist national associations in mitigating COVID-19's financial challenges.
