AFCON 2021: Team with only 11 negative coronavirus players must still play matches – CAF

COVID positive players would not be allowed to play AFCON - CAF

Outfield players to keep post if all goalkeepers are COVID-19 positive – CAF

Five subs and one additional for extra time allowed for a match – CAF

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has indicated that teams left with only 11 players who tested negative for

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According to CAF, players with Covid-19 positive results from a PCR test will not be authorized to go to the stadium or participate in the applicable match.

In a statement on its website on January 8, 2022, CAF said, even if all the goalkeepers of a team were COVID-19 positive, an outfield player must replace the goalkeeper.

CAF said in the event that a team has less than 11 players with COVID-19 negative test results the team would be considered to have lost the match by two goals to nothing (0-2)

“A team will be required to play a match if they have a minimum of eleven (11) players available who have tested negative. In the event of the absence of a goalkeeper, another player from the team must replace the goalkeeper, provided the total number of available players is at least eleven."

“A team that does not have a minimum of eleven (11) players available will be considered to have lost the match 0-2,” the statement said.

“In exceptional cases, the Organizing Committee of the Africa Cup of Nations will take the appropriate decision,” CAF added.

CAF, also disclosed that a team would be allowed a maximum of five substitutions during matches and would have only three opportunities to affect the substitution during a match.

However, “unused substitutions and opportunities are carried forward into extra time” and also teams would be allowed one additional (to the five substitutions) where matches go into extra times.