African countries gear up for return to international football

The next FIFA window for international football, from October 5-13, is the first opportunity for African national teams to play since last November.

Nigeria will play friendlies against the Ivory Coast and Tunisia on October 9 and October 13 in Austria.

African countries are gearing up for a return to international football next month but with many borders throughout the continent still closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic most teams are headed to Europe to play.

Cameroon is travelling to the Netherlands, Guinea to Portugal, while the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Tunisia head to Austria where it is easier for them to assemble squads because they are mostly made up of European-based players.

The next FIFA window for international football, from October 5-13, is the first opportunity for African national teams to play since last November.

The pandemic saw international football cancelled for all except European countries this month, and uncertainty over travel around Africa led the Confederation of African Football to put back the resumption of official competition to November. Next months window will allow African countries to play much needed friendlies to prepare for upcoming qualifiers for both the next Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup finals.

Nigeria has arranged friendlies against the Ivory Coast and Tunisia on October 9 and October 13 in Austria, while Cameroon has a friendly against Japan in Utrecht, after which they will stay in a training camp in the Netherlands for a few more days.

Cameroon coach Toni Conceicao this week named a preliminary squad of 33 players for the match and camp.

Guinea plays the Cape Verde Islands on October 10 and Gambia on October 13 in Faro.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is travelling to Morocco for a training camp and a behind-closed-doors international against its host in Rabat on October 13.

Senegal will also play Morocco in Rabat on October 9.

African champion Algeria has yet to announce its plans but media reports say it will also go to Austria.

South Africa is trying to organise two matches at home next month against neighbouring countries but has yet to finalise arrangements as it awaits a possible reopening of their borders in the coming weeks.