One month away from CHAN 2020, Cameroon is finally reaching its goal
The Japoma Stadium in Douala (archive).
WikiCommons / Kondah
Text by: David Kalfa Follow
3 min
The next African Nations Championship (CHAN 2020) is scheduled from January 16 to February 7, 2021. After losing the organization of CAN 2019 and seeing CHAN 2020 and CAN 2021 rejected, Cameroon will finally welcome a large men's football competition, after decades of waiting.
Publicity
Read more
The next African Nations Championship (CHAN 2020), the competition reserved for footballers playing in their country, will take place in Cameroon from January 16 to February 7, 2021. "Finally", one could write.
Because this sixth edition has known many vicissitudes.
It was initially to take place in Ethiopia in early 2020, before being entrusted to Cameroon following too long delays on the Ethiopian side.
Then it was up to Cameroonians to see the final phase shifted from January to April 2020. Finally, the Covid-19 went through there and the “CHAN 2020” - The African Football Confederation (CAF) decided to keep this name - will finally take place early next year.
Cameroon is "ready"
For Cameroon, there is only a month to wait.
The country has invested gigantic resources to host CAN 2019, then CAN 2021 and finally this CHAN 2020 which must serve as a test for the next African Cup of Nations.
The CAF wanted to be reassuring on December 10.
Its Executive Committee assured that "
the host country is ready to host the event
", at the end of yet another inspection visit carried out from October 27 to 31 in Douala, Limbé and Yaoundé, the three cities that will host the 32 matches of the final phase.
Since the beginning of the month, several members of the Cameroonian government have gone to inspect their infrastructure planned for CHAN 2020. "
I am very happy with what I was able to see, despite some details that remain to be finalized
, reacted Prime Minister Dion. Ngute in comments reported by CAF.
The stadiums that I have seen are those that can be seen in all cities around the world.
These are modern stadiums, solid infrastructure… We can even host the World Cup in this country with the stadiums we have
”.
A long wait
While waiting to receive perhaps one day a World Cup, Cameroon will put an end to nearly 50 years of famine.
Cameroonians have not organized a major international men's football tournament since the 1972 African Cup of Nations.
The 2016 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, an eight-team competition, and the 2017 African Nations Women's Volleyball Championship, were early stages.
This CHAN 2020 should be the second in very busy months for Cameroonians.
Apart from CAN 2021 - postponed to early 2022 ... - Cameroon will also be the scene of the African Nations Women's Handball Championship, from June 11 to 21, 2021.
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Soccer
Sports
Cameroon