Egypt’s Amr El-Sulaya (left) and Kenya’s Eric Johana Omondi vie for the ball during the African Nations Cup 2021 Qualifier at the Borg El Arab Stadium in Alexandria, Egypt (Reuters)
African governing body CAF said on Friday that this month's Nations Cup qualifiers have been postponed due to coronavirus fears, just two days after insisting that they would go ahead.
On Wednesday, CAF said it had no plans to postpone any club or international fixtures due to the coronavirus outbreak.
However, it backtracked on its decision after the World Health Organization described coronavirus as pandemic after the virus claimed thousands of lives in Europe, with Italy the worst affected.
The core of most African national teams is made up of European-based footballers. The upcoming Nations Cup qualifiers were scheduled to take place on 25 and 31 March.
"A new schedule shall be announced in due time," CAF, which also postponed women's 2020 Nations Cup qualifiers and U-20 World Cup qualifiers, said in a statement.
Egypt, who were held to draws by Kenya and Comoros in their opening two games, were due to face Togo in a double header in Group G of the Nations Cup qualifiers.
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