By Angu Lesley Ngwa Akonwi
Football Writer,kick442.com-Cameroon
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has turned down a joint request from four North African football federations seeking to postpone this month’s second round fixtures of the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
Federations from Morocco, Egypt, Algeria, and Tunisia had appealed to the continental body, citing logistical difficulties linked to the travel schedules of their national teams ahead of the upcoming Arab Cup in Qatar.
However, CAF has maintained that the calendar will proceed as planned, insisting that the competitions’ integrity and scheduling must be preserved.
A united front – but no concessions
In a rare show of regional unity, the four federations submitted a collective plea to the governing body, arguing that the overlapping dates placed significant strain on clubs whose players are set to join their national teams for pre-tournament preparations.
Several top clubs from the region — including Al Ahly, Wydad Casablanca, Esperance Tunis, and USM Alger — are among those directly affected, with their squads already stretched between domestic and international commitments.
But CAF’s competitions committee ruled that any postponement would disrupt the wider continental calendar, particularly with the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations fast approaching in December.
The decision reflects CAF’s desire to ensure fairness and consistency across its competitions and to avoid congestion in an already packed football schedule.
Clubs face fixture headaches
The rejection means clubs across North Africa must now manage tight turnarounds, balancing continental fixtures with player releases. Coaches and administrators have expressed concern over player fatigue and travel logistics in the lead-up to the Arab Cup.
For CAF, the move underscores its determination to maintain order and discipline in the African football calendar — even amid pressure from some of the continent’s most influential associations.
The second round of both interclub competitions will continue as scheduled later this month, with first-leg matches expected to kick off from the weekend of 15–17 November.
Copyright©2025 kick442.com-Cameroon
All rights reserved. This material and any other digital content on this platform may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, written, or distributed in full or in part, without written permission from our management.
This site is not responsible for the content displayed by external sites
French 
English