African Nations Cup adjusted for Ramadan, to begin on June 21

AgegePulse Magazine

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
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.

CAF also confirmed that the draw for the first round pool stage will take place in Cairo on April 12.

Fourteen countries have already booked a finals berth, including first time participants -- Madagascar and Mauritania -- with the remaining 10 places to be decided when the qualification campaign concludes in March.

Punch Newspaper

RAMADAN: Egunjobi urges Muslims to promote peace in Agege

AgegePulse Magazine

Executive Chairman of Agege, Alh. Ganiyu KolaEgunjobi, has urged Muslims faithful in the area to promote peace and unity as they begin this year’s Ramadan fasting.

Egunjobi in his goodwill message to Muslims in the local government on Ramadan, said fasting in the holy month teaches Muslims to practice piety, self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, tolerance, justice, fairness and empathy for the less fortunate in society.

He called on all adherents of the Islamic faith to reflect on these edifying lessons as they fast and make them a greater part of their daily lives.

The Chairman while speaking against the background of the recent political crisis in Agege in which 40-year-old Nurudeen Olonose was killed after the LG Congress at Central Primary School, Oniwaya, pleaded with Muslims to pray for peaceful co-existence of the residents of the area, saying "There is no gain in fighting and killing ourselves over mere political issues. We are all brothers and sisters with common backgrounds. We have no other place to call our own than this Agege.

"In our own little corner, we must promote peace and eschew violence, hate speech and divisive issues of any kind. It is my prayer that Allah Subhana Watala will accept our Ibadah in this holy month and after it."