The 2019 African Champions League has already begun, just a fortnight after Esperance won the 2018 edition. The 2019 tournament will also be squeezed into six months, with a May final, so that from then on African football will align its calendar to the European one.
Where this will be noticed most is in next year's Cup of Nations, which will be played in June/July instead of its usual window in Jan/Feb. This will mean the top African stars not having to leave European clubs during the season (good news for Liverpool among others). However, the very existence of that event has been thrown into doubt today as the CAF announced that Cameroon are no longer going to be allowed to host it, after concerns about preparedness. At short notice, South Africa might be the only country who can step in - Morocco may bid, but the CAF are still upset with them for pulling out of hosting 2015. If South Africa decline (and they haven't qualified yet) there must be a chance the finals won't take place after all.
Where this will be noticed most is in next year's Cup of Nations, which will be played in June/July instead of its usual window in Jan/Feb. This will mean the top African stars not having to leave European clubs during the season (good news for Liverpool among others). However, the very existence of that event has been thrown into doubt today as the CAF announced that Cameroon are no longer going to be allowed to host it, after concerns about preparedness. At short notice, South Africa might be the only country who can step in - Morocco may bid, but the CAF are still upset with them for pulling out of hosting 2015. If South Africa decline (and they haven't qualified yet) there must be a chance the finals won't take place after all.
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