Covid-19 Threat Leaves Zambia Heading Home from U17 AFCON

Morocco was due to hold the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) this weekend, with some teams having already arrived at the location, including Zambia. Zambia’s first match was due to be held on the 14th March against the Ivory Coast, having been placed in Group A alongside other teams including Morocco and Uganda. 

Following uncertainty and concerns around Covid-19, as well as visa delays, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have released a press statement that the 2021 tournament has been cancelled. This comes following the cancellation of the U-17 World Cup by FIFA which was due to go ahead in December. As AFCON was due to provide Africa’s qualifiers for the World Cup, cancellation of the worldwide event also provides less reasoning for the African competition to go ahead. 

“The Committee was made aware of the constraints faced by some of the participating member associations as well as the host country including the fact that the coronavirus pandemic continues to present significant challenges for the organisation of international sporting events,” read the CAF statement on the cancellation of the tournament.

Morocco’s last opportunity at holding the competition was in 2015, in which they won the bid to host, however concerns around the Ebola outbreak resulted in the country refusing to hold the tournament.