Later Nations Cup set to raise European ire
Reuters - Friday 25 February 2011, 13:34
KHARTOUM - The 2012 African Nations Cup
finals will be played from January 21 to February 12, threatening to
again raise the ire of club coaches across Europe.
The dates were confirmed by the Confederation of African
Football after a meeting of its executive committee in Khartoum
this week and represents a change in attitude after African
football's governing body agreed to host the 2010 tournament
earlier in the year to accommodate European clubs.
The 2010 Nations Cup in Angola started on January 10 in a move
CAF said was designed to cause minimal disruption to the club
careers of many of its top stars.
It came after consistent complaints from players and many
club managers and coaches about the timing of the bi-annual
tournament.
With many leagues taking a winter break at that time, many
players at clubs in Europe were able to compete at the 2010
finals without missing domestic matches.
Clubs are obliged to release their players for the Nations
Cup, which is a continental championship, with countries
entitled to call them up for 14 days before their opening match.
Equatorial Guinea and Gabon are co-hosting the 16-team
tournament, with the vast majority of players expected to come
from European-based clubs.
The opening match will be played in Bata in Equatorial
Guinea and the final in Libreville.
The draw is to be held in late October or early November
this year, but CAF is still to fix a date and venue, a spokesman
said on Friday.