Cybereagles

iworo wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:56 pm Super Eagles alert: CAF ponders the possibility of postponing AFCON 2023



The Nigerian national team is targeting a fourth continental crown in Ivory Coast next year

The Super Eagles may have their dreams of claiming a fourth winners medal at the Africa Cup of Nations delayed.

A Le Monde report claims the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is considering postponing the next edition of the continent’s flagship football championship in the Ivory Coast.

The 17 edition of the continental championship, AFCON 2023, was initially scheduled for June 23 to July 23, 2023, in Ivory Coast.

But exactly a year before kickoff, major cities in Ivory Coast are experiencing heavy rains with floods. And CAF is beginning to admit that scheduling the competition in the middle of the rainy season may not necessarily be a bright idea.

“We are considering it; it is one of the possibilities,” admits CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, interviewed by Le Monde.

“We asked Ivorian meteorologists to report to us on rainfall history in Côte d’Ivoire in June and July, but also to share their projections with us.”

Rescheduling the championship may be tricky, though.

With the 2022 World Cup billed for November 21 to December 18, 2022, it is impossible to push back the AFCON to January-February 2023.

Obviously, players will not be able to participate in two major tournaments in the space of a few weeks.

The most likely alternative appears to be to postpone the AFCON to January-February 2024.

That is similar to the previous edition, AFCON 2021, in Cameroon, which kicked off earlier this year after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted initial plans.

The subject is expected to be on the menu of the 44th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF scheduled for August 10 in Arusha, Tanzania.

A Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal lifted the trophy in Cameroon – a first in history – after beating Egypt on penalties in the final.

Three-time AFCON champions, Nigeria, have not tasted triumph in the competition since their last romp to glory at South Africa 2013.

But newly appointed chief coach Jose Peseiro has expressed his desire to guide the Super Eagles to a fourth continental crown next year.

Nigeria are on track to qualify for the tournament after claiming victories over Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in their first two games of the campaign.

https://soccernet.ng/2022/06/super-eagl ... -2023.html

Enugu II wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 4:28 pm

iworo wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 3:56 pm Super Eagles alert: CAF ponders the possibility of postponing AFCON 2023



The Nigerian national team is targeting a fourth continental crown in Ivory Coast next year

The Super Eagles may have their dreams of claiming a fourth winners medal at the Africa Cup of Nations delayed.

A Le Monde report claims the Confederation of African Football, CAF, is considering postponing the next edition of the continent’s flagship football championship in the Ivory Coast.

The 17 edition of the continental championship, AFCON 2023, was initially scheduled for June 23 to July 23, 2023, in Ivory Coast.

But exactly a year before kickoff, major cities in Ivory Coast are experiencing heavy rains with floods. And CAF is beginning to admit that scheduling the competition in the middle of the rainy season may not necessarily be a bright idea.

“We are considering it; it is one of the possibilities,” admits CAF Secretary General Veron Mosengo-Omba, interviewed by Le Monde.

“We asked Ivorian meteorologists to report to us on rainfall history in Côte d’Ivoire in June and July, but also to share their projections with us.”

Rescheduling the championship may be tricky, though.

With the 2022 World Cup billed for November 21 to December 18, 2022, it is impossible to push back the AFCON to January-February 2023.

Obviously, players will not be able to participate in two major tournaments in the space of a few weeks.

The most likely alternative appears to be to postpone the AFCON to January-February 2024.

That is similar to the previous edition, AFCON 2021, in Cameroon, which kicked off earlier this year after the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted initial plans.

The subject is expected to be on the menu of the 44th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF scheduled for August 10 in Arusha, Tanzania.

A Sadio Mane-inspired Senegal lifted the trophy in Cameroon – a first in history – after beating Egypt on penalties in the final.

Three-time AFCON champions, Nigeria, have not tasted triumph in the competition since their last romp to glory at South Africa 2013.

But newly appointed chief coach Jose Peseiro has expressed his desire to guide the Super Eagles to a fourth continental crown next year.

Nigeria are on track to qualify for the tournament after claiming victories over Sierra Leone and Sao Tome and Principe in their first two games of the campaign.

https://soccernet.ng/2022/06/super-eagl ... -2023.html

CAF has to come to the realization that it has to do serious politicking to keep the January/February window open for its flagship continental competition given the disruptive climate in most part of its constituency. This idea that UEFA and its competitions should dictate the dates for AFCON is a lising proposition that will not only undermine AFCON but will not be the end of Europe's push more. Further, FIFA will not do the hardwork for CAF and the calendar negotiation and jostling is currently underway. The weather problem has never been rocket science. It is a matter of presenting a strong political front.

For those who care, Mark these words -- a few years from now after AFCON goes to a summer schedule, managers and clubs in Europe will complain that African players are often injured because they need to rest instead if participating in an additional competition [AFCON] that takes place in the summer. They will also cite long travels and call for a 4 or five year cycle for AFCON. That is next.

EMIR KONGI JAFFI JOFFA wrote: ↑Thu Jun 30, 2022 6:28 pm Fifa should help us by awarding 2 more spots in this year's WC to Africa in exchange for canceling Afcon next yr..

jette1 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:57 pm Football and heavy rain are match made in heaven as long as the pitches drain well. so lets stop this heavy rainy season nonsense

Eaglezbeak wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 12:11 pm

jette1 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:57 pm Football and heavy rain are match made in heaven as long as the pitches drain well. so lets stop this heavy rainy season nonsense

Absolutely,CAF need to have such standards put in place to make sure the right nations can host the Afcon, with ample time to prepare CIV still couldn’t seek expert advice on how to drain a football pitch if they where not going to invest on closed roof stadia.

Eaglezbeak wrote: ↑Wed Jul 06, 2022 12:11 pm

jette1 wrote: ↑Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:57 pm Football and heavy rain are match made in heaven as long as the pitches drain well. so lets stop this heavy rainy season nonsense

Absolutely,CAF need to have such standards put in place to make the right nations can host the Afcon, with ample time to prepare CIV still couldn’t seek expert advice on how to drain a football pitch if they where not going to invest on closed roof stadia.