By Amaechi Agbo

Confederation of Africa Football, CAF has announced that the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will start on January 9 and end on February 6, 2022.

The Africa’s football ruling body disclosed this on Tuesday after executive meeting in which the draw date for the biennial competition is slated to hold on June 25, 2021.

The CAF Executive Committee met via videoconference on Tuesday, 30 March 2021 in presence of Mr Véron Mosengo-Omba, General Secretary. and chaired by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe.

“The Executive Committee unanimously approved the proposed dates for the organization of the draw (June 25, 2021) and the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2021 Cameroon final tournament (January 9 to February 6, 2022),” CAF announced after the meeting.

The General Secretary gave a report to the EXCO on the state of degradation of infrastructure in the African continent which do not or no longer offer the guarantees and aptitudes to host CAF competitions, in particular the Total Africa Cup of Nations.

It was agreed that the improvement of several infrastructures will be a priority for CAF and a detailed plan will be presented at a short term.

He also indicated, regarding the challenges presented by COVID-19 and PCR tests currently required during competitions, that discussions have been initiated to set up – in collaboration with the WHO – independent bodies in charge of carrying out the tests, before the matches, this in particular in view of the CAN Total Cameroon 2021.

Other resolutions reached include appointments of Mr. Abdigani Said Arab, President of the Somali Football Federation, to the CAF Executive Committee; confirmation of Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa to continue the functions of Chairman of the CAF Finance Committee and appointment of Mr Hany Abou Rida (Egypt) and Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick (Nigeria) as members of the CAF Emergency Committee as well as the President informing the Committee on the appointment of two Advisors: Mr. Jacques Bernard D. Anouma (Côte d’ivoire) as Senior Special Advisor to the President and Dr. Daniel Alexandre Jordaan (South Africa) as Advisor in charge of Sport and Marketing to the Presidency.

Finally, the General Secretary informed the Executive Committee about the audit mission initiated by the PwC Cabinet at CAF headquarters, and the results of which are expected at the beginning of May 2021.

23 countries have qualified for the tournament with the remaining slot to be decided between Sierra Leone and Lesotho. The match was abandoned after Sierra Leone reported that five players of the Crocodiles tested positive for COVID-19 before the kick-off of the match on Tuesday.

The winner of the match will join Super Eagles of Nigeria and second team to qualify from Group L.