BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

The delayed Cameroon 2021 has already hit a unique point ahead of the kick-off this Sunday. For the first time since 1988, the Africa Cup of Nations is holding without the national team of the CAF president featuring.

Sudan, Nigeria's Group D opponents,  beat South Africa 2-0 last year March to pick the second ticket of their Group C qualifiers. It is the second time they will qualify since a dramatic injury-time induced elimination of Nigeria for the 2012 edition.

Twelve years ago, Sudan were already eliminated on the field after losing their last qualifiers to Ghana at home.

But mother luck ran their way as Nigeria, wrongly thinking they needed a two-goal advantage win over visiting Guinea had their initial 2-1 lead cancelled following a 96th minute injury time equalizer by Guinea in the very last match the Super Eagles has since played in Abuja.

Thus, an already eliminated Sudan came in as one of the best runners-up in the groups and Nigeria got eliminated.

Sudan by their win on last year have also eliminated South Africa who finished third on the group log behind Ghana and Sudan.

Thus, CAF President, Patrice Mostsepe will be presiding over his first AFCON but without his own national team.

The last time that happened was in Morocco 1988 when acting CAF president, Abdel Halim Muhammad of Sudan's team did not qualify.

Abdel Halim Muhammad was acting for the late CAF president, Yidnekatchew Tessema of Ethiopia who died in the previous year.

Successor to Abdel Halim Muhammad, Issa Hayatou of Cameroon had his team featuring throughout his long tenure.

Even one-term president, Ahmad of Madagascar had his team as debutants at the 2019 edition in Egypt.