Caf thanks Fifa in assisting with release of African players for international duty

Caf thanks Fifa for player release assistance

JOHANNESBURG, March 29 (ANA) – The Confederation of African Football (Caf) have thanked the Federation of International Football Associations (Fifa) for its assistance in helping release African players for international duty.

Caf general secretary Véron Mosengo-Omba on Sunday provided an update on the players that were released from Europe and other countries, despite strict Covid-19 restrictions in some of those nations.

“As you may be aware, after discussions with the French Federation and French Government, we eventually made progress and the French Government agreed, under specific circumstances, to exempt players from Africa from the Covid-19 quarantine regulations.

Mosengo-Omba said Fifa president Gianni Infantino and Fifa assisted a lot in the process, working closely with Caf president Patrice Motsepe and himself.

“These efforts led to the progress and success that we achieved.

“The impact of Covid-19 on the release of players to their national teams is a global problem and a challenge for all. Caf raised this matter at the Fifa Council meeting on March 19.

“We have continued to be in contact where African footballers are playing as every country has its own Covid-19 quarantine regulations.”

Mosengo-Omba said the release of European-based African players and African players playing outside the continent was important for the performance of African national teams to “maintain the respect and world class standards of the Total Africa Cup of Nations and the global competitiveness of African national teams in the FifaWorld Cup next year.” – African News Agency (ANA), Editing by Michael Sherman