Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) are set to call off the 2021 AFCON in January amid worries over the Omicron Covid 19 variant.
Less than a month remains until the first game of the tournament is due to kick off in Cameroon, but reports in the French media on Wednesday suggested the competition could be cancelled amid concerns from national team coaches.
A number of Premier League teams had been due to lose players for the duration of the tournament, with Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp revealing talks had been taking place with a view to delaying the release of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.
Now, after a CAF meeting on Wednesday, it’s expected the competition will be postponed indefinitely, as first reported by El Balad’s Ismael Mahmoud in Egypt.
AFCON had already been pushed back due to the pandemic, with the tournament initially scheduled for the summer of 2020.
Also Read: Egypt’s Head Coach Queiroz Faces Sack
But CAF moved it to January 2020, before the pandemic forced the confederation into a one-year delay.
Around 40 Premier League players had been expected to join up with their national sides after the Boxing Day fixtures, though some clubs had been making efforts to delay the release.
However top-flight bosses are now set to be handed a reprieve.
Earlier, France’s RMC Sport cited concerns from “several national coaches” regarding the Omicron variant, while also detailing the complex issues around players attached to English clubs.
“The African players called up by their selection should…undergo a quarantine on their return to the United Kingdom, which would therefore deprive the clubs of their players for a longer period,” the publication noted.
The report adds that “the country [England] is currently affected by a significant wave of Covid cases.”
Liverpool aren’t the only Premier League team waiting anxiously to learn about the future of the tournament, with Chelsea having also been due to lose Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech.
Algeria’s squad was expected to include the only representatives for Manchester City and West Ham United – Riyad Mahrez and Said Benrahma respectively – while Arsenal’s four representatives would have included former captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon.
The Premier League recently confirmed a return to emergency measures after 42 confirmed Covid-19 cases, the highest weekly tally since the competition began regular testing.
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COMMENTS
Did the Europeans cancel the euros on the ground of covid? Why Afric
Shooou! Somebody should tell klopp and cohorts we can prosecute Afcon with local players. Obviously, what is being said to EPL players of Africa origin is, he who pays the piper dictates the tune.
Afica is such a cursed continent,which one is omicron,europe played thier tournament this year amid covid concerns,Latin America played thiers ,it’s now our turn and they come up with omicron,they can easily be bribed to cancel it because of French and English teams that will loose thier bench warmer players in January
Everything the cabals are doing ends in Africa and black people.
Cancellation is not the best option.. the best option is that if the worst come to worst, they should play it in Qatar…world cup stadiums… It will even be more enjoyable as the players will showcase themselves better out there…
European countries never want anything good to come out of African continent because if it were to be them they will surely look for solution devoid of cancellation…
So in the end, no AFCON again. Nigeria don sack coach now. Remain World Cup qualifiers and a new recruitment of a new foreign technical adviser then. At the end of the day, Eguavoen’s reign as Super Eagles coach remains a pipe dream.
The times are changing truly.
Its Fake News From France,
Why didn’t they cancel Fifa Arab cup? Why Africa? CAF, must wake up to smell the coffee.
Because of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane you want to cancel a hooooole Afcon? Nna mhenn, Na waoooo!
Not quite long one of them said the nation’s cup is inconsequential. Africa, sorry o.
Yeah! @Luke, that’s a good question. As dull as the FIFA Arab tourney is, we still stay glued to our TVs to see the games. Now, they’re going to deprived Africans. Too bad!
deprive***
I’m suspecting that Nff boss knew that Afcon is not holding anymore next year, reason why they sacked Gernot Rohr.
@BAMIDELE AJETUNMOBI, if that was said of English FA, just may be. Africans don’t have such reading mentality.
When it was time for the Euros, no covid.
Matches were played in various venues/cities with huge crowds present at their respective stadias.
When it was time for Coppa American tournament, it was played with no whahala.
All European league matches are going on including all their various cup competitions.
FIFA Arab world is going on as we speak and no whahala.
AFCON is coming up in January 2022…and it has already been scheduled for cancellation because of virus wey no concern Africans….and we Africans bend to the coup because that’s who we are … PEOPLE WITH NO SENSE OF THEIR OWN!!!
Africans…we are so cursed !!!
We will always remain SLAVES!!!
Omicron did not start in Africa British Government just formulated the story to disorganize AFCON because they will lose their African Generating money machine players for more than 1 month. During Euro why couldn’t they discover their Omicron. Shameless
That would have been the height of slavery should CAF had allowed it to happen. Because these dirty minded Europeans/western world will then keep coming to dictate how we Africans run every other thing. CAF must make sure they don’t fall for this selfish trap by the European. They won’t try it with other continents football bodies but always think they are at liberty to do whatever they like with AFRICA.
I haven’t seen anyone dying of AIDS with all the shout. Then came Covid-19 with all the restrictions, still no known person died, now you brought into the fray, Omicron. Cron what??? Send us to Qatar instead of cancellation.
Posted the fake news link about cancellation, but CSN seem to have taken it down hence posting again. They take it down one more time, I will go paste something on Fbk n on other social media.
I think it was last week or so when the news first broke out and CAF immediately dismissed the rumours that the 2021 AFCON could be moved away from Cameroon following the recent discovery of the new Omicron variant of Covid-19.
It became a heated discourse that I was moved to advising CAF’s director of communications Alex Siewe on what is necessary. I specifically told him
certain things require urgent attention where potential alternatives are deployed to meeting a set goal. I equally reminded CAF that the nations cup is a meeting point for almost every African at the moment, that shows how it is so cherished, and that we are left with a month to the continental show piece. In the event of Cameroon being infested with Omicron, what are the options? My question hasn’t been answered till date.
On the same online podium was a certain commenter who went by the name, John. He sought to know my take in the whole Omicron brouhaha. I told John that Afcon was in jeopardy already. That public health situation globally looks set to present a major challenge before the African finals in Cameroon, no one can deny that fact.
Jonathan Abel in his online submission, said it could take up to 6 weeks to properly identify the strain and adapt vaccines accordingly. That’s very clear.
The problem of AFCON being that there is an extremely low vaccination uptake in many African countries and as such the competition is in jeopardy of being cancelled. This can only be averted if appropriate attention is given and resources are deployed for more research works.
I tell you my brothers and sisters, two things are involved; 1. Pray Omicron doesn’t infest Cameroon before/on the tournament and if 2. The competition should be moved to a healthier environment. In the absence of these, post postponement remains the last resort.
Brotherly, we should stop allowing ourselves to be deceived by all these nonsense postulations of COVID or Moronic scrambled word Omicron. Man made sickness to control the world just purely out of GREED. THAT SAME GREED WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE MORE, MARK MY WORD. WE ALL WILL SURELY DIE OF SOMETHING SOMEDAY WHETHER ANYONE GETS TO VACCINATE A MILLION TIMES OR NOT. THAT TIME TO TAKE OFF THIS EARTHLY DRESS CALLED SKIN FOR THE “LIVING” AND THE “I” FOR THE “DEAD WALKING” IS SUPREME GOD TO DECIDE. I THRASH EVERY TALK ABOUT CONVID TO THE BIN AND ONLY FOCUS ON CONTINUOUS JOURNEY TOWARDS DIVINE LIGHT GUIDED BY HIS LAMP ON MY FEET; GODS WORD.
True talk. It was made in the lab by the cabals/globalist/central bankers/deep state/ colonial power or whatever they are called to install their new world agenda and their great reset.!!
new world order
I told you Nigerians that Since South Africa is out of Afcon and playoffs this two events will not hold again. SAFA will never let it happen again but you all insult me. Watch how this rumors manifest. Hehehehehe
Ode ni bobo yii sha
Babanla ode. Oponu olosi!
AFCON officials state that Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead despite COVID-19 concerns……way to go, our leaders need to start standing on our foot to avoid see finish from all this self enter European, emirate have lift there ban on peace airline and increase the arrival flight from peace airline to Dubai, UK too have lift the ban just because we counter them back with our own sanction, abi Nigeria wa Kere nii, we need to value ourself first .
Nigeria should propose that all the 10 qualifying Nations to FIFA playoff should all go the FIFA World-Cup. I am happy the AFCON is off because of Osimhen absence. For me, no Osimhen, no AFCON. Thank God, the bloody white man is gone from Nigeria. God Bless Nigeria.
@Glory, the variant has a large number of mutations, some of which are concerning.
I was in my village in Esan, Edo State sometimes ago where I assisted in some developmental activities. I must tell you the locals are aware of Omicron and had actually started to look into the eficacy of using local herbs for its cure (boiling of some herbs and in addition, grinding of other item as mixtures).
If I have my way, My advice to the World Health Organisation(WHO) and the Nigeria Minister of Health is to visit Edo State and interface with Herbs Doctors(Trado-Medical Practitioners in Edo), to see how they can be coopted while taking their herbs for lab test. This is possible.
The problem right now is, the spread is highlighting vaccine inequality, advocates are even urging the USA to follow through on a pledge to ensure countries waive intellectual property protections on vaccines and share them with the developing world. You and I know what developing World means, so it hasn’t anything to do with the fact that we are Africans who are been unfairly treated. Far from it!
Ok, what about Ursula von der Leyen of EU who recently said that Omicron is expected to become the dominant variant in the European Union by mid-January.
As much as Afcon is dear to Africans, my brother or sister every necessary precautions should be taken to avoid casualties.
@ Oseodion, I am not saying there is no COVID, or whatever. I am saying the evil of man produced it, all because of greed. But this attempt for Satan to control humans is already written to FAIL THE FINAL FAILURE. BUT THE GULLIBLE WILL GO WITH SATANS FAILURE BECAUSE THEY SURRENDERED THE SUPREME GODS RIGHT TO OWNERSHIP OF THEIR LIFE TO THE FATHER OF LIE; SATAN himself, ALA VAIN SCIENCE. WHY ? BECAUSE OF FEAR OF DEATH N deathly attachment to material things/pleasure. A DEATH JESUS CHRIST HAS ALREADY PURCHASED BACK FOR US BY SHEDDING HIS MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD.
NO ONE AND NOTHING CAN KILL ME EXCEPT GOD THE ALPHA N OMEGA WILLS THAT TO HAPPEN, THEN ANYTHING N EVERYTHING INCLUDING COVEN419 N MORONIC WILL THEN BE ABLE TO TAKE OFF MY EARTHLY DRESS/UNIFORM. BUT EVEN THEN MY SOUL SPIRIT IS FOREVER UNTOUCHABLE AS IT RETURNS TO OUR ETERNAL GOD, TRIUMPHANT, THROUGH REFUSING TO GIVE IN TO THE LIE OF SATAN IN ALL SENSE; MY COMPLETED WORK IN THIS FACTORY CALLED EARTH, FULL OF EVER FIGHTING GREEDY BOSSES.
It’s gonna be like a botnet style attack to control the world, where they will keep coming out with different variants to get the required %/ maximum world population into the hook.
Then afterwards, these vaccinated will then be used as zombie computers to attack, discriminate, persecute the few that have refused been vaccinated in a botnet style attack, where the hacker deposit its agent in millions of computer, turning those computer unto zombies to attacks other computers forcing them into zombies or just shutting (killing)them down altogether.
That hacker sees himself as god of the numerous computers he controls. Read Roman 1: 18:31 and think about all the things they are using as bait to get people vaccinated, all toward one idiot then eventually placing himself as god.
When THE GODLY ONE HAS DEATH UNDER HIS CONTROL, BE SURE TO HAVE LIFE AS HE WILL FOREVER IMPRISON DEATH FOR THE SAKE OF THOSE THAT TRUST IN HIM
BUT WHEN THE EVIL ONE HAS CONTROL OF DEATH, EVERYONE IS GONNA ALWAYS BE THREATENED WITH DEATH. BUT THANKS N PRAISE TO GOD ALMIGHTY HE HAS CONTROL OVER DEATH NOT ONLY TO OUR EARTHLY BODY BUT TO OUR SOUL SPIRIT. AND ALSO CONTROL OVER LIFE BOTH TEMPORARY N ETERNAL.ISNT THAT AMAZINGLY SATISFYING?
@GLORY even a whole Pastor Taribo West has been vacinated and will tell you Covid 19 omicron variant is real..what you are saying is your own opinion and doesn’t not represent the image of CSN. Nor sport loving fans and Nigeria in general.
@Glory, feel free to ask questions if you are not sure of what to post. I tell you, evidence gathered from doctors treating omicron patients outside hospitals showed a high reinfection rate and multiple cases of infections in people that emerged. This should concern us.
I don’t think it’s a question of religion or even virulence, but more a question of exposure to vaccination and prior infection, so we would be cautious to try and interpret that this is a less virulent strain. We will have to see what happens in other parts of the world before people are led astray. Manna will not come from heaven.
Most infections are described as mild, with recoveries usually within three days but the most common early symptom reported is a scratchy throat, followed by nasal congestion, a dry cough and myalgia, or aches, manifesting in lower back pain. Exactly how it is.
Religion ends in Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, hare Krishna etc. But JESUS CHRIST TRANSCENDS ALL OF THAT. HE IS THE WAY TO LIVE, WHICH ENSURES WE PASS THROUGH DEATH UNTO LIFE ETERNAL, LIFE ETERNAL THAT IS FOREVER SUPREME LIGHT. DEATH HAS NO POWER OVER THAT WAY OF LIFE(JESUS CHRIST) REASON, IF JESUS WAS TO BE AROUND WILL HE HAVE TAKEN THE VACCINATION? MY BROTHERLY MONKEY POST, TALKING ABOUT TARIBO BEING A PASTOR AND TAKEN THEIR JAB. I DONT FOLLOW PASTORS BUT ONLY ASK MYSELF WHAT JESUS CHRIST WILL DO IN SUCH SITUATIONS.
DO YOU THINK JESUS CHRIST WILL TAKE VACCINE SO HE WONT DIE IF WAS HERE WITH US? HOW LAUGHABLE. TRUTH IS, HE IS IN TRUE BELIEVERS OF GOD. FOR HE SAID, ” GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN US THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. EARTHLY DEATH IS THE BEGINNING OF NEW N BETTER LIFE FOR THOSE THAT TRUST IN GOD SO LET NO ONE THREATEN YOU WITH DEATH. ONLY RECONCILE YOURSELF TO GOD BY TOTALLY SURRENDERING YOURSELF TO HIS SUPREME WILL.
Oseodion please go back and read to understand instead of rephrasing what I haven’t denied to be the lie of who has the power to give n take life. YOU SEEM TO STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND DEEP THINGS. ALL THE TIME GOD SPOKE TO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO “SEE” THAT HE GOD HAS GIVEN THEM THE PROMISED LAND, THEIR EYE WERE OPEN OOO. BUT YET GOD ALWAYS SAID TO THEM “SEE”. YOU TELLING ME TO COME ASK YOU OR ANYONE QUESTION IS SO LAUGHABLE. WHAT YOU HEAR CONSTANTLY IS WHAT YOU EVENTUALLY BECOME. I CHOSE TO HEAR GODS WORDS N NOT COVID VACCINE GOSPEL. ABSOLUTE NONSENSE.LOLZZZ
@GLORY, you seem not to realize that the conversation is about the cancellation of AFCON over covid Omicron variant.
Obviously, you need to go back to the thread to see how you went completely out of point. I wasn’t expecting a sermon but rather an intellectual conversation on the subject matter. Good day!
Brother intellectual is the reason for criminality that is becoming so difficult to solve. Such as cyber security. FOOLISHNESS IN WORLDLY UNDERSTANDING IS INTELLIGENCE IN THE THINGS OF GOD AND VICE VERSA. THE MORE PEOPLE BECOME FOOLISH IN THE THINGS OF GOD, THE MORE THEY ARE awarded worldly DEGREES SUCH AS PERMANENT HEAD DISTRUCTION(PHD) AND DEADLY RETARD(DR) GIVING TO SUCH ONES THAT WENT MIXING DEADLY STUFF IN THE LAB TO PRODUCE THEIR CONVID. PAUL IN THE BIBLE COUNTED ALL HIS WORLDLY LEARNEDNESS A LOSS AS LONG AS THEY WERE GOING TO STAND AGAINST HIM DOING THE WILL OF GOD. BUT TODAY WHILE MANY GOD FEARING DOCTORS HAVE BEEN KICKED OUT THEIR PROFESSION FOR COMING OUT TO EXPOSE THIS WHOLE COVID THING, MANY OTHER DOCTORS WOULD RATHER PROTECT THEIR JOB BY JOINING IN THE PROMOTION OF THIS BLASPHEMY AGAINST OUR SUPREME GOD.
Is this the same Inegbenebor with Biola Kazeem in MTN football programme?
By no means.
If the sponsors Total suspect even remotely that the competition is going to be a flop, they will pull the plug off the tournament.