The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will begin on 9 January after its dates were moved, has Cameroon have declared.
The competition was planned to happen in June and July yet was changed on account of the “troublesome” climate in the nation at that season.
It implies various Premier League clubs could be without first-team players at a crucial stage of the season.
The 2019 competition in Egypt was the first to be held in the summer
Prior to that, the Cup of Nations had been held in January and February, conflicting with the European local season.
The change back to a January start implies that the competition won’t conflict with the extended Club World Cup, being held in China in June 2021.
Following a gathering on Wednesday with agents 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 climate reasons at Cameroon’s solicitation.”
Caf’s agent general secretary Tony Baffoe stated:
“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.”
