The African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, endless soap opera

The Japoma Stadium in Douala. WikiCommons / Kondah

Text by: David Kalfa Follow

The African Cup of Nations in Cameroon was to be held in January 2019. It will finally take place there in January 2022, after many twists and turns. What must have been a big party without stories is becoming more and more like an endless soap opera.

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The African Cup of Nations in Cameroon was to be the Olympus of Issa Hayatou, president of the African Football Confederation (CAF) from 1988 to 2017. This CAN in the land of the "Indomitable Lions" finally became the rock of Sisyphus Ahmad, the boss of CAF since 2017.

A CAN in January 2019 with 16 teams

It all started in September 2014. CAF then decided to award CAN 2019 to Cameroon, rather than Algeria or Côte d'Ivoire (which is entrusted with CAN 2021). In the entourage of the Cameroonian Hayatou, it is assured that his country - which has not organized a final phase since 1972 - had the best record. It is also conceded that this choice is a gift for an Issa Hayatou who wants to see his beloved homeland host the big celebration of African football. Cameroon then has 4 and a half years to prepare for a 16-team tournament in January-February 2019. The 2016 CAN women also serves as a successful mini-test.

But, in March 2017, the first dramatic blow: the omnipotent Hayatou was defeated for the presidency of CAF by Ahmad. The recently elected Malagasy is immediately critical of the preparations for the CAN 2019.

A CAN in June 2019 with 24 teams

In July 2017, the second drama: after a major seminar, CAF decides that the CAN will now be played with 24 teams and that it will preferably take place in June-July. The Cairo-based body asks Cameroonians, Ivorians and Guineans (who are supposed to host CAN 2023) if they are ready to organize this expanded competition. Paul Biya's government decides to take up the challenge.

However, it quickly turns out that Cameroon has accumulated too many delays, despite already colossal investments. In November 2018, CAF therefore withdrew the organization of the tournament from Cameroonians and entrusted it to the Egyptians, a few weeks later.

A CAN in June 2021

Third and even fourth drama since, in the process, the African Football Confederation offers the CAN 2021 as a consolation. Ivorians and Guineans will also accept a two-year "shift".

Despite all these hiccups, CAF and the Cameroonian authorities are now working on good terms. The Confederation thus chooses to transfer to Cameroon the organization of the African Nations Championship, its second most important competition, Ethiopia not being ready.

A CAN in January 2021

But the story does not end there. The International Football Federation (Fifa, directed since 2016 by Gianni Infantino, is pursuing a policy of expanding its tournaments. Fifa has opted in particular for the creation of an enlarged Club World Cup, the first edition of which is to be played in same time as CAN 2021. New dead end.

CAF and Cameroon then announced in January 2020 that the final phase would take place in January 2021 (and therefore six months earlier than planned). Back to square one. Both parties take refuge behind the climatological explanation: in June-July it is almost impossible to practice football properly. An entirely acceptable argument, because it is the rainy season in the Gulf of Guinea. But this is not a discovery.

A CAN in January 2022

Three date changes and a change in format: CAN CAN in Cameroon be cursed? The serial novel is far from over. At the end of 2019, a virus appeared in China: the Covid-19. In the space of a few weeks, the pandemic becomes global, contaminations and deaths number in the thousands. Africa is relatively spared, compared to Europe, but find themselves largely paralyzed by precautionary measures (border closures, confinements, etc.). Under these conditions, impossible to continue the qualifications for CAN 2021. A third of the qualifying matches have been played so far.

At CAF and Cameroon, we have already understood that it was better not to take risks and postpone the final phase for a year. Again. Because in June-July 2021, in addition to the weather, there will be the Euro and the Copa America at the same time.

A financial chasm

Nevertheless: during these twelve months of waiting, it will be necessary to maintain the stadiums, hotels and other infrastructures that were just waiting to be used. The addition for Cameroonians will therefore continue to climb. It would already happily exceed hundreds of millions of euros…

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  • Soccer
  • CAN 2019
  • CAN 2021
  • CAF
  • Sports
  • Cameroon

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