Kenya seeks postponement of AFCON qualifiers due to virus concerns

News24
11 Mar 2020, 19:02 GMT+10

Kenya is seeking the postponement of this month's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Group G leaders Comoros, due to an international travel ban on athletes due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The Kenyan sports ministry on Tuesday issued a one-month travel suspension for Kenyan athletes to international competitions following the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus.

Kenya was due to host Comoros on the first leg in Nairobi on 25 March, with the return leg in Moroni four days later.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chief Nick Mwendwa said it would not be possible to host the islanders since the country's health ministry had also cancelled all meetings, conferences and international events in Kenya.

"Based on the directive issued by the Ministry of Health, we have requested the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to postpone our match against Comoros," Mwendwa said in a statement.

"We understand why this may be a hard decision for CAF in that there will be World Cup and AFCON qualifiers leaving no open window to play these games, but I urge them to kindly consider our appeal."

The country's travel ban has also led to the cancellation of two African cricket and rugby competitions scheduled for Nairobi.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.

More Information

null in null

Africa

Section

Moscow calls for greater African media presence

The Foreign Ministrys Tatyana Dovgalenko has emphasized that the media plays a key role in supporting the momentum in Russia-Africa...

Feature: Chinese hybrid rice boosts food security in Madagascar

Chinese hybrid rice growing has helped to improve Madagascar's food security, with locally adapted hybrid varieties now covering 90,000...

South African president says Trump agreed to U.S. attending G20 Summit

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Monday that President Donald Trump had agreed that the United States should participate...

(Hello Africa) From blueprint to brotherhood, Tanzania's AFCON stadium rises with Chinese support

Mustafa Hashim Chikawe, working for the China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG), stood on the bustling construction site...

EU Boosts Its Defense And Targets Russian Fertilizers

Welcome to Wider Europe, RFE/RL's newsletter focusing on the key issues concerning the European Union, NATO, and other institutions...

Ethiopian youth shine in "Chinese Bridge" language competition

Twenty-year-old Mariamawit Habtom was among 14 contestants who recently took part in the 24th Chinese Bridge Chinese Proficiency Competition...

World

Section

"The josh was high...": BSF's Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari recounts Operation Sindoor

Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 27 (ANI): Border Security Force (BSF's) Assistant Commandant Neha Bhandari commanded a forward...

"Come back, we are waiting for you... 'Bholanath' is also waiting": Farooq Abdullah appeals to tourists ahead of Amarnath Yatra

Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], May 27 (ANI): National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah on Tuesday appealed to tourists to return...