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The final round of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will take place from June 21st to July 19th in Egypt. This CAN 2019 was originally scheduled to be played in Cameroon, in January-February, and with sixteen teams. But in the space of five years, the organization of this tournament has experienced many vicissitudes and upheavals. " Everything is ready, " assured the boss of the African Football Confederation, the Malagasy Ahmad, on the eve of the kickoff.
From our special envoy in Cairo,
" I feel happy because the African football family is here today for this first African Cup of Nations at 24. " In a crowded hall, the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) shows his relaxation 24 hours from the kickoff of the CAN 2019. " We have met this challenge to change [format and period, Editor's note] from 2019, all together , Ahmad, in the introduction of a press conference, this 20 June in Cairo. The road was long and strewn with wanted or unwanted pitfalls .
The Malagasy assures: " I think that everything is ready for the organization of this Cup of Nations of Africa to 24 teams. This 32nd edition, however, has had many vicissitudes. Rembobinons.
A tribute to Issa Hayatou
On September 20, 2014, the government of African football, the Executive Committee (ComEx) of the CAF, reserves some big surprises to football fans. On this day, ComEx decided to award the respective organization of the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Nations Cups to Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea.
The country of Paul Biya, superpower on the lawn, does not shine however by its ability to host major sporting events. As proof, the last CAN Cameroon dates back to 1972.
But Cameroon has a serious asset: the president of CAF. The Cameroonian Issa Hayatou dreams of completing his last mandate by a tournament on his land. A few years later, some of his relatives admit that confiding the CAN 2019 to the Cameroonian authorities was also a bit of a tribute to the omnipotent boss of the continental football. A bit like the Euro 2016 awarded to France by the European Confederation (UEFA), as a gift to Michel Platini, then UEFA President.
Ahmad's victory changed everything
Only here, a wind of revolt begins to blow at the CAF. Issa Hayatou has been in power since 1988 and some have had enough. Under the watchful eye of the International Football Federation (FIFA), Ahmad dethroned the old "Lion" Garoua, in the presidential election of March 2017 in Addis Ababa.
The new leader has the ambition to change everything. And he has no taboos. Including the African Cup of Nations, CAF's golden egg chicken. In July 2017, in Morocco, following a symposium, the African football governing body estimates that the CAN must now compete in June-July rather than in January-February, and with more teams ( 24 instead of 16).
Faced with a fait accompli, the Cameroonian leaders decided to take up the challenge. The climate is not yet good with the CAF. On several occasions, Ahmad expresses his doubts about Cameroon's ability to organize the CAN 2019, including with only 16 participants.
Opportunistic Egyptians ...
On November 30, 2018, after several months of discussions, speculation, tensions and inspection visits, the sentence falls: the final phase will not take place at the "Indomitable Lions". Very soon, CAF proposes to Cameroon, reigning African champion, to console itself with the holding of the CAN 2021.
There remains the big question: where will the 2019 edition take place? Morocco, unfortunate candidate for the organization of the 2026 World Cup and very influential in the CAF, seems to be an ideal resort. But the Moroccan power does not have the same ambitions as his Football Federation: he wants to offer the best "Olympic Games of Africa" in history. African Games 2019 (August 19-31) scheduled only a few weeks after the CAN.
As Morocco is not a candidate, Egypt rushes into the breach. The Egyptians have no difficulty in being chosen by the CAF as substitutes, against their only opponent: South Africa has filed a weak record.
... and ambitious
It's January 8, 2019, and Egypt has barely six months left to make it. Local authorities do not skimp on the means. They promise to set up a badge system (FAN ID) for supporters, on the same model used at the 2018 World Cup in Russia. They intend to deploy 7,000 volunteers and law enforcement by tens of thousands.
At CAF, the organizing committee (COCAN) proposes ten major stadiums and 24 training grounds (one per participating team). The African Football Confederation holds four cities (Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia and Suez) and six venues for matches.
READ ► CAN 2019: Calendar, results and standings of the Africa Cup
The hour of truth
Despite their many infrastructures - transport, roads, hotels, stadiums - the Egyptians nevertheless run after time. British companies are responsible for redoing the lawns so that the show is up to the task. COCAN and CAF work night and day to justify three crucial decisions: revolutionize the CAN, do it from the 2019 edition, and this, in a country chosen at the last minute or almost ...
And when you ask Ahmad if his team plays his credibility, the person smiles: " The ingredients are there for the success of this CAN 2019. But that does not in any way whatsoever the desire of some people to always want to destroy us. They will always do it. And it is not the success of this CAN that will stop them. "