TheNewsGuru

Tag: CAF

  • CAF releases guidelines for restart of competitions

    CAF releases guidelines for restart of competitions

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Monday released guidelines to guide member associations on the restart of football activities on the continent.

    A statement on the continental body’s website said that the guidelines were put together by the CAF Medical Committee in collaboration with the Technical and Development Department as well as a team of experts.

    ”The 27-page document entitled, “CAF Guidelines to Resume Football in Africa,” emphasises on the health of the major stakeholders (Players, Officials, Fans, Partners) as the essential element, which should constitute the basis of all decisions regarding the reintroduction of football activities across the continent supported by the authorisation of relevant State Authorities.

    ”The plan also highlights on effective and continuous medical assessment (testing) of players and officials, guidelines for training sessions, disinfection of sporting facilities, as well as strict adherence to the global preventive protocols.

    “This comprehensive document is major step towards resuming football on the continent.

    ”Based on recent developments, it is important we have a plan in place to guide our stakeholders on the return of continental and domestic competitions, and the need for an all hands on deck approach.

    “Many considerations were factored into the putting together of the document by our team of experts notably the specificities of the continent.

    ”Together with strategies established by local authorities, it provides the MA’s with adequate information to resume operations upon receiving the green light, ” the statement quoted CAF Acting General Secretary Abdelmounaim Bah as saying.

  • CAF to disburse $200,000 each to 54 member associations

    CAF to disburse $200,000 each to 54 member associations

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said it will disburse $200,000 in financial aid to each of its 54 member associations as part of COVID-19 pandemic reliefs.

    This was disclosed at its meeting on Thursday, May 28 via video-conference, where it was revealed that the CAF Emergency Committee has approved the immediate distribution of financial grants to member associations.

    The fund is to support the management of football at the domestic levels hugely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    A total of $10.8 million is expected to be distributed to the 54 member associations of the continental footballing body.

    “A total of $10.8 million will be transferred to the 54 member associations on the continent as part of a relief plan to ease the financial burden on the African football community during these unprecedented times.

    ”Due to the fast-spread of COVID-19, African member associations have suspended all domestic competitions, which has brought about huge financial burdens on their shoulders,” President Ahmad Ahmad said in a statement via CAF’s website.

    Also, CAF noted that it is assessing the opportunity of additional financial support to member associations for the resumption and organisation of their domestic competitions.

    Two weeks ago, CAF announced the distribution of $3.5 Million to the participants of the Interclub competitions for the 2019/20 season.

    The two club competitions, Total CAF Champions League and Total CAF Confederation Cup, were suspended after the quarter-final matches due to COVID-19 in March.

    CAF added that it is monitoring the pandemic situation closely and working with the relevant authorities including the Wealth Health Organization (WHO), FIFA amongst others on the impact of the virus on the continent, and will announce developments to our competitions at the appropriate time.

  • COVID-19: CAF postpones interclubs finals indefinitely

    COVID-19: CAF postpones interclubs finals indefinitely

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the indefinite postponement of the finals of the Total CAF Confederation Cup and Total CAF Champions League 2019/20 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

    The postponement was contained in a statement on the website of the continental governing body.

    According to the statement, the new schedule would be communicated in due time after consultation with various stakeholders.

    It added that CAF was monitoring the situation closely and working with relevant authorities including the World Health Organisation.

    ”This is to know the impact of the virus on the continent, and we will announce developments to our competitions at the appropriate time,” the statement said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the inaugural one-match final for the two competitions was originally scheduled as follows:

    *Total CAF Confederation Cup – May 24, 2020 – Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Stadium – Rabat, Morocco

    *Total CAF Champions League – May 29, 2020 – Japoma Stadium – Douala, Cameroon.

  • CAF postpones 2021 AFCON qualifiers

    CAF postpones 2021 AFCON qualifiers

    Two rounds of 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers scheduled for March have been postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on Friday.

    Rounds three and four of the pool qualifiers were due to be played in the international window from March 25 to March 31.

    But the CAF emergency committee has postponed the games until further notice, without providing alternative dates.

    The Nations Cup finals in Cameroon have been moved forward to next January and February to avoid the rainy season, which means the qualifiers will have to be completed this year.

    That could see a delay to the start of the African qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup which were due to start in October.

    The Nations Cup qualifiers would have involved 48 countries.

    Many players would have been travelling from the major European leagues in Italy, France, England, Germany and Spain, where the coronavirus has disrupted domestic fixtures.

    CAF has also postponed qualifiers for the 2020 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for April and this month’s Women’s Under-20 World Cup preliminaries.

    “We would like to assure you that CAF is monitoring the situation closely and working with the competent authorities such as WHO (World Health Organisation) on the impact of the virus in the continent and CAF competitions,” a statement said.

    The African Nations Championship (CHAN), a national team competition for home-based players, is still on in Cameroon from April 4 to April 25.

    But this is dependent on the findings of the CAF medical committee who will visit the country this weekend to assess preventative measures taken by the Local Organising Committee.

    Morocco’s football federation has called a meeting for Monday to decide whether they will play in the tournament.

  • COVID-19: CAF to maintain schedule of all competitions

    COVID-19: CAF to maintain schedule of all competitions

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) saiys it will maintain the schedule of all competitions, as the World Health Organisation (WHO), is yet to declare any African country as a high risk of the Coronavirus.

    This is contained in a statement on the continental football governing body’s website on Wednesday.

    ”CAF wishes to inform Member Associations and the entire African football family that we are closely monitoring the evolution of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) around the world and in particular the African Continent.

    ”According to World Health Organisation (WHO), no African country till date has been declared a high risk.

    ”Consequently, CAF has decided to maintain the schedule of all competitions.

    ”Also, CAF has been informed of the restrictive measures taken by the authorities of some Member Associations and is in contact to find solutions on a case-by-case basis, with the option of the organisation of matches behind closed doors,” it said.

    CAF added that regarding the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Cameroon 2020, a delegation from the CAF Medical Committee would visit Cameroon from March 14 to March 15.

    ”The purpose of this mission is to assess all the preventive measures taken by the Local Organising Committee,” it said .

  • CAF reschedule 2021 AFCON

    The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will start on 9 January after its dates were moved, hosts Cameroon have announced.

    The tournament was scheduled to take place in June and July but was changed because of the “unfavourable” weather in the country at that time of year.

    It means a number of Premier League clubs could be without first-team players at a crucial stage of the season.

    The 2019 tournament in Egypt was the first one to be held in the summer.

    Before that, the Cup of Nations had been held in January and February, clashing with the European domestic season.

    The change back to a January start means that the tournament will not clash with the expanded Club World Cup, being held in China in June 2021.

    Following a meeting on Wednesday with representatives from the Confederation of African Football (Caf), including president Ahmad, the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) tweeted: “It [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.”

    Caf’s deputy general secretary Tony Baffoe said: “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 reported shall be presented to the members of the Executive Committee during its next session on 6 February.”

    Cameroon had been scheduled to host the 2019 Cup of Nations, but were stripped of that honour in November 2018. At the time, Caf said the decision had been made because of delays in the progress of Cameroon’s preparations.

    A month later, Caf announced that Cameroon had agreed to host the 2021 edition instead.

  • CAF crowns Mane, Oshoala Men’s, Women’s Player of the Year [Full list of winners]

    CAF crowns Mane, Oshoala Men’s, Women’s Player of the Year [Full list of winners]

    Liverpool and Senegal star Sadio Mane and Nigeria and FC Barcelona Women forward Asisat Oshoala have picked up the top awards for African Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year.

    Both players were crowned at a star-studded ceremony in the Red Sea resort of Hurghada in Egypt on Tuesday.

    Mané won the award for the first time after beating club teammate Mohamed Salah and Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez.

    Also, Oshoala was named as women’s player of the year for a record fourth time.

    The Senegal forward received his award from four-time winner Samuel Eto’o at the ceremony which was also attended by former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, although Salah was not in attendance.

    Having finished as runner-up to the Egypt forward for the last two years, Mané becomes the second Senegalese to win the award, after another Liverpool player, El Hadji-Diouf, in 2001 and 2002.

    Mane was Senegal’s main man at the 2019 AFCON where he netted three goals on the Teranga Lions’ path to the final match where they lost by a solitary goal to Algeria.

    He netted a brace in the 3-0 group phase victory over Kenya and added one more in the round of 16 1-0 win over Uganda.

    He was also a vital part of the team as they beat Benin and Tunisia in the quarter-finals and semi-finals respectively, his influence playing a big role in Senegal’s run to the final.

    “To be honest I will prefer to be playing football than speaking in front of so many people,” said Mané.

    “I’m really happy and really proud at the same time. I will like to thank my family, especially my uncle who is here today.

    “It is a big day for me and I will love to thank all the Senegalese people who have been voting for me. I’m from a very small village called Bambali and I’m sure they are all watching me tonight.”

    Oshoala, who scored in FC Barcelona Women’s Champions League final defeat to Lyon, was also delighted to be recognised.

    “Grateful to be African Women’s Player of the year for the fourth time,” she wrote on Twitter.

    “(I) thank God, my family, friends and fans for the support. Big shoutout to my club, my management, team mates at both national team and club level and of course thanks to @CAF_Online for the opportunity.”

    Algeria were named as men’s team of the year, with Djamel Belmadi picking up the coaches’ award.

    Cameroon, who were beaten by England at the Women’s World Cup last summer, were named women’s team of the year.

    Mané had shared the English Premier League Golden Boot with Salah and Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after a momentous season for African players in English football.

    The 27-year-old has continued his good form into this season, having already scored 11 league goals in Liverpool’s brilliant start to the campaign.

    The campaign has already seen them leading the table by 13 points from Leicester.

    Mane also helped Liverpool to victory in the UEFA Champions League final in June, scoring 36 goals in total during 2019.

    Full List of CAF Awards 2019 winners:

    African Interclubs Player of the Year: Youcef Belaïli (Algeria & Esperance / Ahli Jeddah)

    African Youth Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco & Borussia Dortmund)

    African Women’s National Team of the Year: Cameroon

    African Men’s National Team of the Year: Algeria

    Best African Goal of the Year: Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

    FIFPro Africa’s Best 11: Andre Onana; Serge Aurier, Joel Matip, Kalidou Koulibaly, Achraf Hakimi; Idrissa Gana Gueye, Riyad Mahrez, Hakim Ziyech; Mohamed Salah, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Sadio Mane

    African Women’s Coach of the Year: Desiree Ellis (South Africa)

    African Men’s Coach of the Year: Djamel Belmadi (Algeria)

    Club President of the Year: Moise Katumbi (TP Mazembe)

    African Women’s Player of the Year: Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & FC Barcelona Women)

    African Player of the Year: Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool).

  • CAF to reschedule 2021 AFCON

    President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Ahmad Ahmad, has said the dates for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations could be reverted to the old calendar, because of unfavourable June and July climatic conditions in Cameroon.

    This year, Egypt hosted the AFCON in June and July, with the tournament moved from the traditional January and February period.

    With rains expected in the middle of the year in Cameroon, Ahmad feels it is not condusive to have the tournament then.

    “When we took the decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations to June, which we did for the last tournament in Egypt, we have always said that we need to have some flexibility over the dates,” Ahmad told Inside World Football.

    “This is because of the different climatic conditions in the continent. In my view, it is not possible, because of the climatic conditions in Cameroon, to stage the Africa Cup of Nations in June/July. This is clear, so we must take a decision on the date.”

  • Ndidi, Osimhen miss out in CAF final list for 2019 African Player of the Year

    Ndidi, Osimhen miss out in CAF final list for 2019 African Player of the Year

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed the final 10 nominees for the 2019 African Player of the Year award.

    CAF had initially released a list of 30 players.

    But the Nigerian duo of Wilfred Ndidi and Victor Osimhen have been dropped.

    Two-time reigning champion Mohamed Salah has once again been nominated, alongside his Liverpool teammate Sadio Mane.

    Algeria, who won this year’s AFCON, have three players that were included: Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, AC Milan midfielder Ismail Bennacer and winger Youcef Belaili.

    Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who lifted the crown in 2015, also made the cut, with Ajax duo of Andre Onana and Hakim Ziyech.

    Senegal’s Kalidou Koulibaly and Nigeria international Odion Ighalo will also compete for the award.

  • FIFA’s African football takeover plan set for court challenge

    FIFA’s plan to take over the running of African football is set to face a possible roadblock, with an executive committee member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) saying he will challenge the decision in court.
    Hasan Bility, who is from Liberia and a CAF executive committee member for last two years, said he will ask the Swiss-based Court of Arbitration for Sport to declare invalid the agreement by which FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura will be sent on a secondment to overhaul the African governing body.
    Bility said he also wants to ask the court to compel CAF to start a forensic audit of its finances, which he said the executive committee had previously agreed to, but CAF president Ahmad Ahmad then stalled.
    CAF is in crisis following corruption allegations against Ahmad which he has denied.
    Ahmad was reported in March to FIFA’s ethics committee for alleged corruption and harassment by CAF general secretary Amr Fahmy. Fahmy was then fired.
    He was detained in June by French police in Paris where he was questioned over a sportswear deal between CAF and a French company, in which the African body is said to have paid exorbitant prices for equipment it could have got much cheaper directly from the manufacturers.
    In a statement released to the media on Monday, former Liberian Football Association president Bility said Ahmad must resign and the proposed FIFA takeover be cancelled.
    “In an attempt to salvage CAF from imminent implosion and irreversible reputational damage, FIFA proposed a poorly conceptualised and worse executed agreement,” Bility said.
    “Logically, and in a sane world, the acquiescence by the CAF leadership that they have been unable to manage their own affairs ought to have been followed by quick resignation of its top leaders.
    “It is clear to me and many others that the agreement as currently structured has the sole purpose of shielding and cleansing CAF President Ahmad from the crimes he has committed – financial impropriety, sexual harassment and nepotism.”
    FIFA has confirmed there is an ethics investigation into Ahmad, although he was yet to be sanctioned.
    Ahmad has not responded to Reuters’ requests for comment on the specific allegations against him.
    Bility also claimed FIFA President Gianni Infantino has seized on the opportunity to get rid of his secretary general.
    “Infantino has thus seized this opportunity to offer Fatma a ‘golden parachute’ into a confederation job to pave the way for her eventual replacement at the helm of FIFA,” he said.
    FIFA on Monday told Reuters it had no further comment to add to last week’s release of an 11-point road map to help African football.
    Infantino claimed last week that the unprecedented move to step in and administer African football would “significantly improve” the sport in the continent.