The 2021 African Cup of Nations will now be played in Cameroon from January 6 to February 6, 2021, and not in the summer of that year, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) has announced that the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will kick off on 6 January. The change of date was due to weather conditions in the country at that time of year.
The final decision was taken when the Cameroon football officials met with representatives from the Confederation of African Football (CAF), including President Ahmad, on Wednesday in Yaounde.
The result of the meeting confirming the new dates was released online by Fecafoot earlier today.
“It (2021 Africa Cup of Nations) will be played in Cameroon from January 9 to February 6, 2021. Date changed for weather reasons at Cameroon's request,” the statement said.
Caf explained that the change has been made at the request of Cameroon.
“We have reviewed the period of the competition as requested by the Cameroonian party due to unfavourable climatic conditions during the period initially slated,” Caf's deputy general secretary Tony Baffoe read from a statement.
“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 reported shall be presented to the members of the Executive Committee during its next session on 6 February.”
Cameroon agreed to host the 2021 edition after the West African country was stripped of hosting the 2019 Nations Cup.
