The Sunday Mail
Don Makanyanga
ZIMBABWE coach Zdravko Logarusic may have to complete the rest of this year without taking charge of a competitive game of the Warriors following a decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) executive committee to move the dates of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) and the Africa Cup of Nations Chan tournaments to 2021 and 2022 respectively.
Following his appointment in January the Croat has had to wait to take charge of his first assignment with the senior national team.
Logarusic had been expected to lead Zimbabwe in a back to back AFCON qualifiers against group leaders and African champions Algeria in March before leading the home-based Warriors at the CHAN tournament in Cameroon which had been scheduled to start on April 4.
But then the coronavirus struck and continental football was put on hold leaving Logarusic in limbo.
Earlier today the CAF executive committee held a video conference meeting to deliberate the future of the tournaments in line with the global pandemic.
As part of deliberations the committee agreed to move the CHAN tournament which had been set for April 2020 to January 2021 while the AFCON tournament which was set for 2021 was switched to January 2022
CAF then issued a statement on all the decision they had taken which read:
Total Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021
After consultation with stakeholders and taking into consideration the current global situation, the tournament has been rescheduled for January 2022. The date for the final tournament and the remaining matches of the qualifiers will be communicated in due course.
Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Cameroon 2020
The final tournament has been postponed till January 2021 in Cameroon.
“The CAF Executive Committee is satisfied with t the Cameroonian authorities for their commitment towards the hosting of the two competitions. Cameroon is ready to host either competition and are within schedule,” CAF President Ahmad Ahmad said.
Interclubs 2019/20 season
The Total CAF Champions League and Total CAF Confederation Cup, will resume in September with a Final Four (4) format. Semi-Final matches will be played in a single match.
Total CAF Champions League
Venue for Final Four to be decided
Total CAF Confederation Cup
Morocco will host the Final Four
Total Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2020
Due to challenging conditions, the 2020 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been cancelled.
Meanwhile, the CAF Women’s Champions League will be launched in 2021. The format and other details will be communicated in due course.
Zonal Qualifiers for U-20 & U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
A meeting with the Organising Competitions for Youth Football and the Zonal Unions has been proposed to finalize the arrangements for the zonal qualifiers. Meanwhile, the U-17 AFCON will take place in July 2021.
Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2020
Following the withdrawal of Uganda, a new hosting bid will be launched for the organization of the final tournament either in 2020 or 2021.
Headquarters Agreement
CAF President Ahmad Ahmad commended the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt under the leadership of His Excellency Abdel Fattah El Sisi, who appended his signature to the 10-year agreement on 24 June 2020.
With the new agreement, CAF and its officials will benefit from immunities and privileges granted to diplomatic missions in the territory of the Arab Republic of Egypt in accordance with the 1961 Vienna Convention.
CAF Ordinary General Assembly
The 42nd CAF Ordinary General Assembly has been rescheduled for December 2020 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
As per the recommendations of the CAF Governance Committee, the Elective General Assembly will be held on 12 March 2021.
CAF Awards 2020
Cancellation of the 2020 edition. Major partners for the event, Pickalbatros Group, has re-affirmed their contractual commitment towards the next two (2) editions.
Financial Support to Member Associations
CAF has allocated an additional USD 16.2 Million to assist Member Associations to mitigate challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Each Member Associations will be entitled to USD 300,000.
