29, December 2020
CHAN to take place in Cameroon with spectators in attendance despite Covid-19 0
CAF has confirmed the African Nations Football Championship (CHAN) in Cameroon to take place with fans allowed into the stadia with COVID-19 measures implemented.
Initially scheduled to have taken place in April 2020, the tournament was postponed to early 2021 due to the ongoing pandemic.
It is now set to run from January 16 to February 7 2021.
According to the Journal du Cameroon, the Sports and Physical Education Minister Narcisse Mouelle Kombi was informed of this decision during a working visit to the Amadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaoundé.
Mouelle Kombi stated that during group matches, the stadiums will be filled at 25 per cent capacity.
“CAF has delivered a satisfactory certificate to Cameroon in which she indicates the percentage of stadia occupation in line with health exigencies outlines by FIFA,” said Mouelle Kombi.
“Twenty five per cent of spectators will be admitted in the different stadia during the first phase of the competition, that is group matches.”
He suggested that this could rise to 50 per cent in the knockout phases of the competition.
In a previous stadium visit in Douala, Cameroon Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute added that he was “sure” that by the time the competition starts, the COVID-19 situation in Africa will have improved.
To date, there have been more than 26,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Cameroon, resulting in the deaths of 448 people.
The cities of Yaounde, Douala and Limbe are set to host matches at the Championship.
CHAN is one of two international continental men’s football competitions sanctioned by CAF along with the Africa Cup of Nations.
The Africa Cup of Nations allows all players who play internationally for African teams to compete, while the CHAN only permits players involved in domestic leagues to compete.
Cameroon’s side will be solely made up of Cameroonian players playing football in their home league.
Source: Ghanasoccernet
11, January 2021
African Nations Championship: Biya regime issues COVID-19 guidelines 0
Host Cameroon has issued COVID-19 guidelines for African Nations Championship (CHAN) that will kick off in the country in a week.
“In a bid to respect the COVID-19 protocol established by CAF and FIFA, CAF and Cameroon have agreed on the rate of occupation of stadiums during the competition as follows: 25 per cent for all group matches including the opening match and 50 per cent for all semi-finals and finals,” Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education Narcisse Mouelle Kombi said in a statement released Saturday, adding that a special mechanism to mark the seats in all stadiums will be set up following the authorized occupation capacity.
Wearing of face masks will mandatory in stadiums and social distance will be strictly applied, he said.
“The non-respect of the measures shall expose defaulters to the risk of expulsion from stadium,” Kombi said.
The CHAN will run from January 16 to February 7.
The competition, in its sixth edition, is open to players in local leagues and Cameroon will host the finals for the first time ever.
Source: Xinhuanet