African Nations Cup Adjusted For Ramadan, To Begin On June 21

The dates for the 2019 African Nations Cup finals in Egypt have been moved back by a week, the Confederation of African Football said on Monday.
The shift was reportedly to allow players to rest after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Ramadan is likely to begin on the evening of May 5 and end around June 4. Muslims observe fast during daylight hours over this period, which can have an effect on the performance of athletes.
The expanded 24-team tournament will now kick-off on June 21 and run through to the final on July 19.

A meeting of the CAF Emergency Committee took the decision on Saturday, with the governing body confirming the shift in a circular sent to its member associations.

According to media reports, a request was made for the move by a number of mainly Muslim North African nations, including Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria, who have already sealed the qualification hurdles.