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The Confederation of African Football, CAF has cancelled the Under 17 African Cup of Nations, AFCON earlier scheduled to take place in Morocco from this Saturday March 13th 2021.
CAF reached the decision, Monday March 8th in the course of meeting with officials of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation.
Morocco pointed at the ravaging effects of the coronavirus pandemic, turning down the decision to host barely five days to kick off.
CAF has concluded that the twelve nations tournament will take place in April 2023.
Before the decision cancelling the U-17 tournament for this year, three nations were already in Morocco to participate. These werw Senegal, Zambia and Ivory Coast. CAF is expected to refund the money spent by these nations.
In Cameroon, the U-17 lions that have been in camp for three months and after two failed attempts to travel to Morocco will have to disperse on Tuesday March 9th.
This is the second time in less than a decade that Morocco has turned down the opportunity to host a continental sport event for health reasons.
In 2015, Morocco refused to host the African Cup of nations, citing the ebola disease.
It took the diplomacy of then CAF president, Isa Hayatou to get Equatorial Guinea barely two months to the start of the competition to host.
By Mbatho Ntan.
Breaking!
CAF cancels 2021 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations
