African Cup of Nations postponed from January next year to 2022
Next January’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cameroon have been postponed by one year and will now take place in 2022, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decided yesterday. The Covid-19 health crisis has suspended football across most of the continent since March and left little time to complete the qualification competition, said CAF president Ahmad Ahmad at a news conference. The
Cup of Nations were due to be held from January 9-February 6 next year but will now be scheduled for January 2022. “This decision was taken due to the uncertainties about the coronavirus health situation and especially because of the scheduling problems since four rounds of qualifiers would need to be fitted into the October and November windows for international matches,” said Ahmad.
HAKIMI OFF TO INTER IN 50MN EURO MOVE FROM REAL MADRID: REPORTS
Morocco right back Achraf Hakimi is set to join Inter Milan from Real Madrid for 50 million euros ($56.05 million) after spending two years on loan at Borussia Dortmund, Spanish newspapers AS and Marca said yesterday. Hakimi was photographed arriving in Milan yesterday for a medical and also published a farewell letter to Dortmund on his Instagram account. The report in AS said the 21-year-old is about to sign a five-year contract with Inter. A product of Real’s academy, Hakimi made 16 appearances for their first team in the 2017-18 season but his long-term prospects were limited by the consistency of Dani Carvajal and the signing of Spain international Alvaro Odriozola in 2018. He made 45 appearances in all competitions for Dortmund this season, scoring nine goals and providing 10 assists to help the team finish second in the Bundesliga. “The moment has come to bring a great period of my life to a close,” Hakimi wrote on Instagram. “After two marvellous years, I have to leave this club which has given me so many happy moments.”
MATIP OUT OF LIVERPOOL’S FINAL SEVEN GAMES DUE TO INJURY
Liverpool defender Joel Matip will miss the remainder of the season due to a foot injury, the Premier League champions said yesterday. Centre back Matip, who has been limited to 13 games in all competitions this season, sustained the injury during Liverpool’s goalless draw with local rivals Everton earlier this month. He also missed their 4-0 home win over Crystal Palace last week. “This season I will be not back on the pitch but for next season, I hope I’m going to be quite early a direct help for the team,” Matip told Liverpool’s website. The 28-year-old missed 84 days of action earlier in the campaign due to a knee injury before returning in January.
FRENCH FEDERATION SCRAPS EXTRA TIME IN FRENCH CUP GAMES
There will be no extra time in French Cup games as of next season, with the exception of the final, the French Football federation (FFF) said yesterday. “From the first round up to and including the semifinals, in the event of a draw at the end of time, the game should be directly decided on penalties,” the minutes of the FFF’s executive committee, published by French sports daily L’Equipe, showed.