Africa: CAF Medical Commission calls for cancellation of all competitions.
Member of the CAF Medical Commission, Dr. Prince Bambo revealed to have suggested to the supreme body of African football the cancellation of all local championships and all competitions organized under the agenda of CAF, including CHAN (African Nations Championship, scheduled for last April), as well as the semi-finals of the Champions League and the CAF Cup.
The medical official said in an interview that the objective of his decision was to protect players from the risk of coronavirus infection. However, he clarified that while CAF has the power to cancel competitions organized under its aegis, it has no authority over local championships.
We cannot send our young people to the slaughterhouse. It is up to us to see and discuss with our business partners, discuss with all those who cooperate with us in the organization of these competitions and we will see then. Emergency sets priorities,
Ahmed Ahmed, CAF President
CAF President Ahmed Ahmed has communicated a lot since the spread of the pandemic. Indecisive about the resumption of football in the continent, he said on German international radio Deutsche Welle that « the priority is health ». “We cannot send our young people to the slaughterhouse. It is up to us to see and discuss with our business partners, discuss with all those who cooperate with us in the organization of these competitions and we will see then. Emergency sets priorities, « said the Malagasy.
But the African football boss never made any reference to the proposal from the CAF Medical Commission, suggesting that all tournaments be canceled altogether.
Several African countries have decided to cancel their local championships. Some (Angola, Kenya, Guinea and Burkina Faso) have declared a white season. Others (Liberia, Ethiopia and Niger) have stopped their tournament by choosing formulas to decide between the teams: play-offs, maintenance of the status quo, cancellation of demotions in the lower division and accessions to the elite.
Still other nations, like Morocco, are awaiting the green light from their respective governments and their country’s health authorities.