By Boye Ajayi
The 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Africa have been rescheduled as a result of COVID-19, the World Soccer ruling body (FIFA) has announced, reports Persecondnews.
FIFA in a statement released on Thursday said the games earlier scheduled for June have been rescheduled to commence in September due to the pandemic with some of the stadia not meeting international standards.
It said there would be double match days in September, October and November with the 10 group winners advancing to the final rounds in March 2022.
Africa has been allocated five places at the 32-nation tournament in Qatar which has been moved from its traditional mid-year setting to November and December because of extreme summer heat.
Report said the main stadia in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya and Uganda have been ruled out for use in the competition, but they had alternate venues capable of hosting the event.
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Persecondnews reports that the Super Eagles of Nigeria have slated to open their qualifiers against their Liberian national side.
Meanwhile, Spanish professional football club, Real Madrid will retain Belgian national, Eden Hazard for one more year at least, Marca confirms.
Reports had it that Madrid got kicked out in the UEFA Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, May 5 after a 2-0 defeat to English Premier League club, Chelsea FC.
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