News

Africa Cup of Nations draw in Cameroon delayed by Covid-19

June 7, 2021 09:52 PM


Twitter Share Facebook Share WhatsApp Share

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations draw, scheduled for Yaounde on June 25, has been postponed due to Covid-19, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed on Monday.

A CAF official said the delay of the ceremony to an undecided date was due to "logistical reasons related to Covid-19".

The seeded draw will create six groups of four teams with the winners and runners-up in each plus the four best third-place sides advancing to the knockout second round.

Among the 23 countries who have qualified are defending champions Algeria, hosts Cameroon and record seven-time title-holders Egypt.

Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Comoros, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, Sudan, Tunisia and Zimbabwe have also secured places.

The last place will be filled by Sierra Leone or Benin, who meet between June 12-14 after a dispute over coronavirus tests prevented the qualifier taking place last March.

Benin refused to play in Freetown because five of their stars were barred having tested positive for Covid-19 in tests conducted by Sierra Leone medical officials.

All five tested negative for the illness before travelling to Freetown and when they returned to their clubs in Europe.

The Cup of Nations was originally set for January and February this year only to be postponed because of the pandemic.

 

 



Most Read

  1. Five more children die as death toll from measles in Dadu reaches 27 Five more children die as death toll from measles in Dadu reaches 27
  2. Zuhab Khan and Wania Nadeem's love story culminates in heartfelt Nikah ceremony Zuhab Khan and Wania Nadeem's love story culminates in heartfelt Nikah ceremony
  3. Sharmin Segal says NO to Salman Khan's marriage proposal Sharmin Segal says NO to Salman Khan's marriage proposal
  4. Fan kisses Durefishan Saleem at Ishq Murshid cinema screening Fan kisses Durefishan Saleem at Ishq Murshid cinema screening
  5. Ahmed Ali Akbar drops clue of ‘Parizaad’ Season 2 Ahmed Ali Akbar drops clue of ‘Parizaad’ Season 2
  6. 'Arrogant' student hurls bolttle at Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan's face during concert 'Arrogant' student hurls bolttle at Indian singer Sunidhi Chauhan's face during concert

Opinion

  1. 9th May - A year later
    9th May - A year later

    By Mutaza Solangi

  2. Everything but the truth in Telegraph
    Everything but the truth in Telegraph

    By Mutaza Solangi

  3. PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan
    PM Shehbaz Sharif, WEF and Pakistan

    By Naveed Aman Khan

  4. Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties
    Employing global best practices in Pakistan-Saudi ties

    By Nasim Zehra

  5. PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls
    PML-N smashed PTI in by-polls

    By News Desk

  6. Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity
    Riding the Digital Wave: How Technology is Rewriting the Script of Economic Prosperity

    By News Desk