"I often pass by this stadium in the mornings. It is on my way", explains Idrissa Touré, his eyes riveted on the opening of the sheet metal palisade revealing the "Félicia" in full work. 

The twenty-something student watches dubiously as the construction workers hastily come in and out to deposit heaps of reinforcing bars inside the site, strewn with heaps of red earth.

From morning to night, for two years, they have been hard at work.

Renovation work on the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny stadium located in the heart of Abidjan was officially launched in 2020. The objective is to increase its capacity from 35,000 to 40,000 spectators.

But less than nine months from the scheduled delivery date of the sports infrastructure where the matches of the 2023 African Cup of Nations will be held in Côte d'Ivoire, the progress of this project is worrying.

Already 500 billion CFA francs invested

"Clearly, it's not moving fast enough. I think the time allotted is too short. I don't think they'll finish in time," predicts Idrissa, a football fan who follows the news closely. of the CAN.

On the spot, it is impossible to obtain further information.

The site manager, an employee of the Portuguese company Mota Engil responsible for the work, is not authorized to comment on the progress of the work.

According to the latest figures announced at the end of March by the director of the National Sports Office (ONS), Mariam Koné, the rate of completion of the rehabilitation work at the Félix Houphouët Boigny stadium was around 25% . 

The latter nevertheless maintained that the deadline of December 31 would be respected, because "actions are being carried out at the highest level of the State to support the company in its project, so that things move forward in the best possible way. ."

The Ivorian State has already invested 500 billion CFA francs, or 762 million euros, in sports, accommodation and related facilities: roads, airports and technical health facilities.

Infrastructure which will all be delivered on time, assured the Head of State, Alassane Ouattara, during the official visit of Patrice Motsepe, President of the African Football Confederation (CAF), to Abidjan, at the beginning of the month. april.

Patrice Motsepe then said he was "reassured" by the progress of the work, while specifying that there were "a few problems still to be resolved."

According to the latest information provided by the ONS, three of the six stadiums under construction or renovation are almost complete, namely Ebimpé in the suburbs of Abidjan, Bouaké and Yamoussoukro.

The San Pedro and Korhogo stadiums are nearly 70% complete.

power struggle

For its part, CAF inaugurated a permanent office in Abidjan a few weeks ago to support the Organizing Committee for the African Cup of Nations (CoCAN) 2023.

But the presence of a permanent branch of the African football body in Côte d'Ivoire is not unanimous when the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF), placed under guardianship in December 2020, regained its independence with the election of Idriss Diallo as its head on April 23.

The election of the new president of this federation had crystallized tensions since 2020. It had been postponed several times due to disagreements around the sponsorship system for candidates.

A system that initially did not allow Didier Drogba to join the race.

A standardization committee set up by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) ultimately allowed the former football star to apply.

But he had little convinced the voters, including many presidents of local clubs, who also accused FIFA and CAF of interference.

"This election comes at the right time. These internal quarrels had to calm down. Côte d'Ivoire must show a face of hospitality and seriousness to the rest of the world," said Serge Dakoury, sports journalist at Radio Ivorian Television (RTI).

However, another power struggle is being played out around the organization of CAN-2023.

This opposes the Ministry of Sports to CoCAN, set up by presidential decree.

For several months now, the Committee has been denouncing sabotage of its activities by the Ministry of Sports, which allegedly established a direct line of communication with CAF.

In accordance with its statute, the organizing committee should however be the main interlocutor of the African football body on the subject of the CAN.

For its part, the ministry justifies its interventions by the need to move forward quickly in the preparations in order to meet the infrastructure delivery deadlines.

It seems that CAF have meanwhile decided to keep a close eye on the preparations, nine months before the start of the competition.

"Unfortunate experiences that occurred long before Côte d'Ivoire was selected as the host country have led CAF to be more vigilant. Its credibility and its image depend on it" after the multiple postponements of the CAN at the Cameroon, concludes Serge Dakoury.

CAN-2023 will take place from June 23 to July 23, 2023 in Côte d'Ivoire.

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