CAF directs closed door AFCON qualifiers

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has directed all member associations to organise the upcoming AFCON 2021 qualifiers behind closed doors.

This follows a successful videoconference for National Safety and Security Officers (NSSO) of the Member Associations on November 4, 2020,  to inform them and train them on the new safety and security protocol imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic and to supervise the resumption of qualifying matches for the Total Africa Cup of Nations - Cameroon 2021.

In total, around 60 security officers, comprising National Safety and Security Officers of Member Associations and appointed CAF safety and security officers, attended the meeting, anxious to know how security protocol will be observed in the context of these international matches.

The following points were presented by the Head of CAF Safety and Security Department:

*the organisation of matches behind closed doors and without spectators,

*the new accreditation control mechanism and new accreditation zones,

*the differences between upcoming matches and previous ones,

*the need for each Member Association (MA) to have a good safety and security plan before the effective resumption of official matches.

CAF redefined on this occasion the missions of the NSSOs by providing them with practical advice and guidelines on each of these points.

Dr Christian Emeruwa, Head of the Safety and Security Department, said: "Our goal is to ensure that there is uniformity in safety and security operations across Africa with an emphasis on making sure that the matches are played under a safe and secured environment. We are mindful of the enormous task ahead, especially how to keep spectators and supporters away from the stadium.”

“Hence, we felt the need to guide all national safety and security officers and appointed CAF safety and security officers on best practices under these conditions. The protection of the players and officials before, during, and after the match is of great importance in our operations. We need to ensure effective coordination between safety and security officers and all other health officers that will be involved in delivering each match...." he said.

The NSSOs will receive a detailed protocol, specific to each match, which will guide them through the various stages of the organisation of the matches scheduled for November 9 to 17, 2020.

Since the creation in February 2019 of the Safety and Security Department, CAF has worked closely with the security officers of the MAs through meetings, seminars, and training; capacity building sessions in accordance with the objectives of the organization to place safety and security operations during organised football matches as a top priority of its action.