CAIRO – The dates for this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt have been moved back a week, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said Monday, reportedly to allow players to rest after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Ramadan is scheduled to begin on the evening of 5 May and will end around 4 June. Observers fast during daylight hours over this period, which can have an effect on the performance of athletes.
The expanded 24-team tournament will now kick-off on 21 June and run through to the final on 19 July.
A meeting of the CAF Emergency Committee took the decision on Saturday, with the governing body confirming the shift in a circular sent to its member associations.
According to media reports, a request was made for the move by a number of mainly Muslim North African nations, including Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, who have all already sealed qualification.
CAF also confirmed that the draw for the first round pool stage will take place in Cairo on April 12.
Fourteen countries have already booked a finals berth, including first time participants Madagascar and Mauritania, with the remaining 10 places to be decided when the qualification campaign concludes in March.
Namibia’s Brave Warriors are locked in a three-way battle to reach the finals from Group K where they trail group leaders Guinea-Bissau on goal difference with both sides on eight points, followed by Mozambique a point back.
The group winner and the runner-up qualify for the 32nd Afcon to be played in Cameroon from 15 June to 13 July 2019
Namibia travel to Zambia, who are playing for pride, while Guinea-Bissau host Mozambique as the battle goes down to the wire.
African Super Cup in Qatar
CAF’s Emergency Committee also approved that the African Super Cup be played outside the continent for the first time when it takes place in Doha, Qatar on 29 March.
The switch of venue to the 2022 World Cup hosts was first mooted last month.
African Champions League winners Esperance of Tunisia face Confederation Cup holders Raja Casablanca from Morocco at a stadium in Doha which has not yet been announced.
The UEFA Super Cup has always been held in Europe while the South American version has been staged on three occasions in the United States.
European Super Cup matches, clashes between a country’s league champions and Cup winners, have been staged in different continents.
Barcelona played Sevilla in this year’s Spanish Super Cup in Tangier, Morocco, while the French Super Cup has not been staged in France since 2008, with host nations including Canada, the United States, China and Gabon.
Juventus beat AC Milan in the Italian Super Cup this month in Saudi Arabia, a controversial choice of venue following the murder of dissident Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi and the fact that a limited number of female fans were allowed to enter the stadium in Jeddah.
The African Super Cup has been played annually since 1993, with Egyptian side Al Ahly claiming a record six titles. – Nampa-AFP-Reuters
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