AFCON officials hold emergency talks to decide fate of tournament
Emergency meetings are taking place to decide whether or not the Africa Cup of Nations will go ahead this winter, talkSPORT has been told.
Around 40 Premier League players are expected in Cameroon next month to compete with their countries in the biennial event.
They included Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Senegal’s Sadio Mane, whose absence could prove costly for Liverpool.
However, the Reds may not lose their two star forwards as the tournament, scheduled to take place between January 9 and February 6, is under threat.
A rise in COVID-19 cases across the globe has seen many question the health risks imposed by the competition, for both players and fans.
Cameroon have recorded less than 100,000 official cases throughout the entire pandemic, but there are doubts over their testing regime, while less than five per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
However, the Reds may not lose their two star forwards as the tournament, scheduled to take place between January 9 and February 6, is under threat.
A rise in COVID-19 cases across the globe has seen many question the health risks imposed by the competition, for both players and fans.
Cameroon have recorded less than 100,000 official cases throughout the entire pandemic, but there are doubts over their testing regime, while less than five per cent of the population are fully vaccinated.
Meanwhile, the spread of the Omicron variant in the UK could pose a threat to Cameroon, should Premier League players be sent to the AFCON.
The Africa Cup of Nations is hanging in the balance
talkSPORT host Simon Jordan said: “They have to call upon the governing bodies to say, ‘We need some support in this, because it’s madness’.
“It’s madness sending players to countries that have no testing regime of any significance and no vaccine policy of any significance.”
And according to journalist Rob Harris, conversations about the fate of the tournament are ongoing.
It is understood officials are considering staging the tournament behind closed doors or moving it to Qatar, while complete cancellation remains a possibility.
Source: talksport