The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revealed that the next Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament which will be held in Cameroon in 2021 will be staged from January 9 to February 6.
The announcement of the new date means that there has been a reversal of the plans to host the continent's flagship tournament in the summer. Initial plans to play the 2021 AFCON tournament between June and July has now been aborted.
The decision has become necessary on the back of a request from the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and other stakeholders citing the weather conditions in Cameroon during the original timeline as a factor that will not see to a smooth tournament.
Following deliberation at a meeting between CAF and the LOC, they have agreed that it will be best to host the 2021 AFCON between June and July.
A statement from CAF earlier today revealed: “Indeed, faced with the unfavorable climatic conditions during the period initially fixed, Cocan (LOC) wanted to review it”.
It added: “After having heard the various arguments, in particular those of the meteorological officials of Cameroon, and the representatives of coaches and players, the AFCON Organizing Committee, which received the mandate from the CAF Executive Committee to decide, acceded favorably to this request.
“A detailed report will be presented to the members of the Executive Committee at the next meeting scheduled for February 6, 2020”.
Though the change is a mere reversal to the previous timeline where the AFCON tournament used to be staged, it is expected to draw criticism from European clubs who will lose the services of African players in their various teams.