Gernot Rohr Reacts To CAF’s AFCON 2021 Postponement

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has backed the Confederation of African Football’s decision to postpone the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.

CAF, during its executive committee meeting on Tuesday, resolved that the continental showpiece which was supposed to kickoff on January 9, 2021, in Cameroon will now take place in 2022 owing to the impact of Covid-19.

Currently, qualifying games are yet to be concluded, and there is no set time for resumption as the coronavirus pandemic is showing no signs of slowing down in Africa.

Rohr shared his thoughts on the resolution with BBC Sports Africa.

“I think this is a wise decision because time is very short now, and they could not postpone to the summer,” the former Gabon manager said.

“I can understand this decision – we have more time now to prepare our young boys. It is not all bad.

“There is a positive side in all this, and we have time for some friendlies and also for the beginning of the World Cup qualifiers – normally we will begin in November with this, and I think we can follow the plan and still have time to the Afcon qualifiers starting in October, so it is a wise decision and it will be a big year in 2022.”