CAF Takes Key Decisions on African Football at Symposium Hosted by Morocco

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) wrapped up its extraordinary General Assembly in Morocco with the adoption of recommendations providing notably for moving from January to June the staging of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroun and expanding the participating teams from 16 to 24.

The increase of the participating teams will put additional pressure on Cameroun. African football chiefs are due to inspect Cameroon’s preparations in September, with Morocco on standby if a backup host is needed.

“Morocco will not hesitate for a second to respond favorably to any invitation to host this Nations Cup,” said Faouzi Lekjaa Head of Morocco’s Royal Football Federation.

The change of timing of the African Cup of Nations will be welcomed by European clubs, many of whom have lost players at vital periods of the season because of the time slot.

Major changes have also been made to Africa’s Champions League and Confederation Cup tournaments, which will now run from August to May, like Europe’s Champions League, rather than over the course of a calendar year.
The new amendments that were brought to CAF’s statutes also included the reduction of the members of the standing committees from 19 to 11.

CAF also enlarged its structure, creating a post of 3rd vice president, a position that went to Faouzi Lekjaa, who retains the post of president of the Finance Committee.

CAF’s extraordinary General Assembly was held on the sidelines of the international symposium on African Football held in the Moroccan city of Skhirate.

The meeting brought together renowned figures in the world of football including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and and CAF President Ahmad Ahmad.