2021 U-17 AFCON : Tournament Cancelled

The U-17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 13 to 31, 2021 will no longer hold. The tournament was annulled during a CAF Emergency Committee meeting that held on Monday March 8, 2021 in Rabat, Morocco. Amongst other reasons raised for the cancelation of the tournament are the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, increased restrictions on international travels and uncertainty about the evolution of the situation. The committee equally took into consideration the cancellation of the Under-17 World Cup which the U-17 AFCON was no longer a qualifying pass.
The decision to cancel the U-17 AFCON came as a big blow to some of the participating teams given that they had spent months in preparing their junior selections for the competition. The teams already in Morocco including Côte d’Ivoire, Zambia, Senegal, Tanzania and Uganda will have to pack their bags and leave for their home countries. The U-17 Lions did not fall in this category following two failed attempts to penetrate Moroccan soil. The last attempt was made on March 7, 2021 barely 24 hours to the decision to cancel the tournament was taken. The boys have left camp for their respective homes with some of their dreams to ever participate in any U-17 AFCON killed due to the age factor.
It is worth mentioning that the choice to annul the tournament comes within six weeks a...