On the surface, CAF hinged the postponement of the 2024 African Nations Championship to the facilities in the host countries not being ready. The continental body in the same breath praised the “good progress made in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, the host countries.”

But GhanaSoccer.net has reported that an inadequate number of teams for the final competition may have been the cause of the postponement.

Only 18 teams are in the race and Algeria agreed to be the 19th team, opting to field its youth team as domestic players in the lead league cannot be legally compelled to release players outside a non-FIFA international calendar.

CAF needs a field of either 20 or 24 to run a perfect competition. It will also ensure a regional balancing.

The qualifying series was plagued with a series of withdrawals owing to the timing of the final competition which was originally scheduled for 2024 before being moved to February 2025.

Domestic leagues of the various countries are normally in full swing at this time.

Egypt, South Africa and Algeria among others had to pull out. These countries along with The Gambia and Comoros are now being offered wild card entries with only Algeria giving definite acceptance.

CAF has now opted for August as it possibly wants the domestic leagues to wrap up their campaigns smoothly, without interrupting momentum and to also avoid straining players.

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The African Nations Championship, now postponed till August, will still have the draw held on Wednesday 15 January. 

With three host nations of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, there is supposed to be a field of either 20 or 24.

Only 18 qualified as either hosts or through the competition on the field.  Algeria, earlier withdrawn, accepted to feature, but with its youth team, avoiding a disruption of the domestic league.

If the Algerian re-entry is accepted, the number of teams will rise to 19.

Sources informed the Sports Village Square that CAF which actually took the decision to postpone the final tournament on Monday evening but made open the decision 24 hours later, is working on five other countries as possible wildcard holders.

In order to establish a geographical balance, the countries being ‘wooed’ are: Egypt (North Africa), South Africa (Southern Africa), Malawi (Southeastern Africa), The Gambia (West Africa Zone A), Gabon (Central Africa) and Comoros (Southeastern Africa).

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BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Algeria may be an unlikely beneficiary of the now-postponed African Nations Championship. Previously declining participation, Algeria was convinced by CAF to attend the championship as the 19th team.

The North Africans opted to feature their youth team as the domestic players in the elite division cannot be legally compelled to release players outside the FIFA international calendar.

With the postponement to a yet-to-be-decided date in August, Algeria will now be able to feature the legitimate players for CHAN.

According to Algerian publication, Al-Khabar, with the postponement, as earlier suggested by the Algerian FA, the North African country will now be able to feature its best domestic players under Coach Madjid Bougherra.

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