January 6 – After consultation between the Cameroonian government and the Confederation of African Football (CAF), attendances at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations will be capped at 60-80% of stadium capacity. The tournament kicks off on Sunday.
By Samindra Kunti
January 5 – Gambia coach Tom Saintfiet sighs at all the adversity. His Scorpions will participate for the first time in the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, but in an interview with Insideworldfootball, he explains how the debutants’ preparations have been derailed by Covid-19 infections, cancelled friendlies, injuries and the late release of European-based players.
December 30 – Players heading to the African Cup of Nations have been given permission to stay with their clubs until January 3 – six days before the start of the tournament in Cameroon.
December 30 – The Portuguese José Peseiro has been named the new coach of Nigeria, but he won’t lead the Super Eagles at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.
December 29 – After months of doubt, the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) looks set to go ahead in Cameroon as planned, according to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) president, Patrice Motsepe.
December 23 – Egypt’s Al Ahly claimed the African Super Cup on penalties against Morocco’s Raja Casablanca to reaffirm their dominance of the continental club game.
December 22 – With Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe all but ending speculation over the fate of the Africa Cup of Nations, he has reiterated that fans will need to provide a negative PCR test to attend matches and allow the competition to be organised in a bio-secure way.
December 21 – In his last-minute visit to Cameroon, Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has given some reassurances that the Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead as planned after weeks of uncertainty.
December 20 – Fresh uncertainty has emerged over whether next month’s African Nations Cup in Cameroon will take place following claims that FIFA president Gianni Infantino has intervened.
December 17 – Another appalling case of alleged football-related sexual abuse has been exposed, this time in an Africa’s Gabon.
December 15 – The head of Somalia’s FA Abdiqani Said Arab (pictured) has been kicked out of office over allegations of corruption in the latest scandal to hit African football.
December 13 – Cameroon legend Samuel Eto’o has been elected the president of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) for a four-year term, defeating the incumbent Seidou Mbombo Njoya.
December 8 – The Confederation of African Football has dismissed rumours that next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) could be moved away from Cameroon following the recent discovery of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19.
By Andrew Warshaw
December 6 – South African officials insist they will not give up the fight after FIFA dismissed their request to have a crucial World Cup qualifier against Ghana replayed because of alleged match-fixing by the officials.
December 1 – The World Leagues Forum, representing professional leagues from across the world, has written to FIFA and African football’s hierarchy denouncing what it claims is a unilateral decision, with no consultation, over the release of players for the upcoming African Nations Cup in Cameroon in January and February.