Cameroon has confirmed it’ll be moving the African Cup of nations scheduled to take place in summer to January & February due to weather conditions in the country at that time of year.
“It [the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations] will be played in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February 2021. Date changed for weather reasons at Cameroon’s request,” the federation posted on Twitter after a meeting with representatives from the Confederation of African Football.
The tournament has typically been held during winter or early spring to avoid conflict with other international tournaments or club competitions, but it was changed last year when Egypt hosted the first summer tournament.
The new move by Cameroon will affect a few of Premier League teams with key players who’re African like Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Sadio Mané (Senegal) and Naby Keïta (Guinea) missing, Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon) and Nicolas Pépé (Ivory Coast).
Cameroon was meant to host the 2019 edition but was stripped of their rights because of delays and security issues, Egypt was subsequently selected to host. Cameroon will now host the 2021 tournament instead. Ivory Coast, was meant to host the 2021 competition, but will now host the 2023 competition at the expense of Guinea, which will now stage the contest in 2025.
“We have reviewed the period of the competition as requested by the Cameroonian party due to unfavourable climatic conditions during the period initially slated. After listening to the various arguments and viewpoints – and in particular from the Cameroonian meteorological authorities, the coaches and players – the representatives of the Afcon organising committee, which received the mandate from CAF Executive Committee to take the decision, has granted this request. A detailed report shall be presented to the members of the Executive Committee during its next session on 6 February.” — CAF’s deputy general secretary Tony Baffoe said.
