The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cancelled Uganda Cranes’ Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers double header with South Sudan due to Coronavirus outbreak.
The first and second legs were scheduled to take place on 25th March and 31st March respectively, but have been rescheduled until further notice.
The development comes after the increased cases of the COVID-19 brought about by the Coronavirus.
In the later addressed to the affiliated football stakeholders in the Africa continent, CAF has expressed its concerns on which it has decided to call off the Qualifiers.
“As CAF’s top priority remains the health and safety of our stakeholders (Players, Officials, Sponsors, Broadcasters, Employees…etc.), we have been monitoring closely, together with our medical committee, the impact of the current Coronavirus crisis,” reads part of the statement.
The Confederation of African Football went ahead to give reasons as to why it can’t risk the lives of its stakeholders
- Coronavirus has been declared a pandemic by WHO
- In Africa, only a few cases have been reported, but the situation could evolve negatively.
- Several players, who are supposed to play the next AFCON Qualifiers, come from countries which have been severely affected by the virus (Europe, Asia )
- Several African governments have taken strong restrictions on travels: lockdown, quarantine for people coming from countries affected by the virus.
- Several clubs refuse to release their players for the next international matches.
For the above reasons CAF has decided to postpone the Total Africa Cup of Nations 2021 Qualifiers and assures its stakeholders that a new proposed calendar which will be communicated soon according to the evolution of the Coronavirus situation.
Uganda tops group B with four points after a goalless draw with Burkina Faso and a 2-0 win against Malawi.
CAF also added that any decision regarding forthcoming CHAN tournament will be made after their visit to Cameroon due this weekend (14th and 15th March 2020).
Defending Champions Morocco on Friday pulled out of the Championship due to the same effect.
Morocco was pitted in group C alongside Uganda, debutants Togo and Rwanda.