Can 2013

[Al-khiyal]

Saadane claims Nations Cup move

February 26, 2010 -- Algeria coach Rabah Saadane says that the 2014 Africa Cup of Nations is to be brought forward to 2013. "It's official and what's more, the qualifiers for the Nations Cup and World Cup are going to be separate from now on," he told BBC Sport. Suleiman Habuba, the Confederation of African Football's Communications Director, says there is yet to be an offcial statement on the matter. "We are in South Africa and looking to talk to FIFA over the matter," he said. Meanwhile, FIFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke would only confirm that talks are ongoing within CAF about the situation.

Saadane also suggested that last weekend's qualifying draw for the Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, which takes place in January 2012, will count for the 2013 finals as well. "The eleven different qualifying groups are going to count for both 2012 and 2013," he claimed.

Yet it is unclear how the finalists will be determined since the 2012 co-hosts will welcome 14 teams, while 15 nations must join Libya in whichever year the North Africans do stage the finals. Qualifying for the 2012 Nations Cup starts in September this year, concluding in October 2011. "After the 2013 Nations Cup, a separate African qualifying campaign for the 2014 World Cup will take place that same year - but it must finish by November 2013," the 63-year-old said. Once again, it's unclear how over 50 countries will be whittled down to five or six World Cup finalists in ten months.

Saadane gave some background to his comments, claiming the decision to switch is to help Africa's World Cup finalists - who currently have to contest the world's biggest football event just five months after the Nations Cup. "I'm very happy about the decision because it's only Caf that stages its major finals in the same year as a World Cup, and just beforehand as well," he added. "In Europe, they stage their finals two years either side of the World Cup while the Copa America now seems to take place the year after a World Cup - it's a good decision."

CAF adopted its joint Nations Cup and World Cup qualifying system for the 2006 finals in Germany, attracting much criticism for leaving many countries without a competitive match for three years. The Nations Cup has been played in an even year since 1968, although the very first competition in Sudan took place in 1957.

[Al-khiyal]

29e CAN en 2013 en Libye

Mardi 9 Mars 2010 -- Il y a de fortes chances pour que la 29e CAN prévue en 2014 en Libye soit avancée d’une année. Une délégation de la Confédération africaine de football (CAF), conduite par son président, Issa Hayatou, et des membres du comité exécutif, dont l’Algérien Mohamed Raouraoua, se trouve en Libye depuis deux jours. Les responsables de la CAF ont eu des entretiens avec leurs homologues libyens sur le degré de préparation de la Jamahiria par rapport à cet événement. Pour rappel, la CAF projette, si la Libye donne son accord, d’organiser la 28e CAN en 2012 au Gabon et en Guinée équatoriale et la 29e CAN en 2013 en Libye afin de permettre aux cinq sélections africaines qualifiées à la Coupe du monde 2014 au Brésil de disposer de plus de temps pour préparer cet important rendez-vous. Les dirigeants libyens seront-ils sensibles à cet argument ? Les dirigeants de la CAF sont confiants, souligne un confrère qui couvre sur place la visite de la délégation de la CAF. Si cette option se concrétise, les qualifiés aux deux tournois seront ceux qui sortiront vainqueurs de leurs groupes respectifs dans les éliminatoires de la prochaine CAN qui débuteront en septembre prochain. L’Algérie jouera dans le groupe composé du Maroc, de la Tanzanie et de Centrafrique.

[Al-khiyal]

Libya to host both 2013 CAF events

May 17, 2010 -- Thanks to a surprise schedule change authorised by CAF, Libya will host both the 2013 African Nations Cup (CAN) and the 2013 African Nation Championships (CHAN), Senegalese press agency APS reported on Sunday (May 16th). According to TAP, one factor in CAF's decision to adjust the event schedule forward from 2014 is that every fourth year, CAN is held just six months before the World Cup.