The opening group matches of Africa’s qualifying campaign for the 2022 World Cup have been postponed.
The group stage of the qualifiers were due to be played in June but Fifa has confirmed the campaign will now start in September.
“The qualifiers are now scheduled to take place in the existing windows of September, October and November 2021, and March 2022.”
A total of 40 African nations are bidding for one of five places for the continent at the finals in Qatar.
The teams have been drawn into 10 groups of four nations with only the pool winners progressing to a final play-off phase to decide the teams going to Qatar.
The delay will allow several countries more time to upgrade their stadia to a standard that will allow them to host matches rather than having to play outside their borders.
