AFCON

Expanded Format, Facilities Raise Concerns Over Cameroon 2019

Published

7 years ago

August 7, 2017

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

There is palpable fear in Cameroon that the hosting rights for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations may be forfeited.

Even before the expanded format which the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced last month after a symposium in Rabat, Morocco, there had been fears of an in-built mechanism to make Cameroon fail in the excellent delivery of the tournament.

A Cameroon newspaper, Cameroon Post, had enunciated analysts’ views and summed that the decision to increase the number of teams from 16 to 24 beginning with the 2019 edition is a step towards telling Cameroon that they cannot host the competition.

Another publication, Bamenda Online, reported that “Cameroon may crack with expanded format”. In another edition of the publication, it reported that Algeria had submitted a request to replace Cameroon as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, host, if CAF, decided to take away the hosting rights from Cameroon.

Proposed Paul Biya Stadium, Yaounde

Citing an undisclosed source, Bemenda Online has it that a leader of Southern African regional football body, COSAFA, Phillip Chiyangwa, claimed that Cameroon’s hosting rights for AFCON tournaments were corruptly awarded under the regime of Issa Hayatou.

According to reports, the current CAF executive committee was said to be reviewing the manner in which the right to host the 2019, 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournaments were awarded to Cameroon and other West Africa nations by the previous CAF administration.

After those allegations faded out, the problem of doubts over Cameroon readiness to host the 2019 soccer jamboree erupted.

Cameroon Post quoted a sports journalist as saying that “Cameroon should sue CAF for changing the rules while the competition is ongoing. That is breach of the rules of the game. Anywhere, if the worst comes to the worse, the 2019 AFCON should be co-hosted.”

Perhaps it is along that line that Tombi A Roko Sidiki, the president of Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), is thinking. Shortly after returning from the Rabat, Morocco symposium organized by CAF, he told the press in Cameroon: “to me, the 2019 AFCON is underway and the playoffs of the competition have started. We are in a world of law and we are not going to change the rules of the game along the way.”

A senior journalist in Cameroon that Sports Village Square spoke with was of the opinion that the country was determined to meet the new demands imposed by the expanded cup format “knowing well that we are victims of the anti-Hayatou atmosphere in CAF today.

“It’s a sort of trap to take the hosting rights for us…but if they change the rules to eight stadia, we will give 10. The government and people of Cameroon are ready for the challenge and we will go the extra mile to welcome the continent in 2019”, remarked the experienced former sports journalist.

But situation on ground may be more than just a determination to deliver an excellent tournament. Stadium construction and upgrading of facilities are reportedly behind schedule.

In fact, Cameroon Post reported that FECAFOOT had terminated partnership agreements with a US-based company, Prime Potomac, which was saddled with the construction of Bemenda Olympic Stadium, one of the venues of the 2019 competition that is barely 18 months away.

Major concerns have been about facilities in Yaoundé and Douala which are being stalled by low funding. Under the previous 18-team format, Cameroon proposed to host the tournament in five cities of Douala, Yaoundé, Bafoussam, Garoua and Limbe.

It will now need six stadiums to host the competition. Sports Village Square gathered from Bamenda online that only the town of Limbe looks completely ready for the event.

The newspaper however quoted the country’s sports and physical education minister, Ismeal Bidoung Mkpatt as reassuring that the government was putting everything together for Cameroon to host Africa come 2019.

The upgrading of facilities is going at a very slow pace. According to Cameroon Post, work is yet to start on the Garoua Roumd Adjia Ominisport Stadium where the 16,000 seats need to be increased to 20,000.

Other works to be done there include refurbishment of dressing rooms, lightings, and the annexing of the nearby Lamido Hayatou de Poupoumre Stadium.

According to the reports, the works have been handed over to Chinese and Portuguese companies.

Other proposed sites are Bafoussam Ominisport Stadium, Paul Biya Stadium in Yaounde and the Japoma Stadium in Douala.

According to Cameroon Post, facilities in Douala and Yaounde pose the greatest problems. Construction works are yet to begin. “The Turkish firm contracted for Paul Biya Stadium and its two annexes in Yaounde has opted to import pre-fabricated parts to speed up the project.” The report has it that work recently began at Japoma Stadium in Douala.

Proposed Japoma Stadium, Douala

AFCON

Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 fixtures almost in same pattern with World Cup qualifiers

Published

2 weeks ago

July 12, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Confederation of African Football (CAF) has now released the full fixtures of the qualifying series for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

The fixtures for the Nigerian team is almost in the same pattern with that of the 2026 World Cup qualification which has seen the Super Eagles wobbling.

Like that of the World Cup, the Super Eagles will begin their quest for qualifcation for AFCON with a home game in Uyo as they will host Benin Republic.

As it was in the World Cup, they will then head to Rwanda. Last November, their second match was played in Rwanda which hosted Zimbabwe home match. This time the Super Eagles will be facing Rwanda, the same team they will meet when the World Cup qualification series resume in March next year.

On Match Day 3, the Super Eagles will host Libya and will have the reverse fixture immediately after that of Match Day 3.

Later they travel to Benin for Match Day 5 before hosting Rwanda on the last match day.

The Fixtures

September 2 – Nigeria vs Benin Republic; Libya vs Rwanda

September 6 – Rwanda vs Nigeria; Benin Republic vs Libya

October 11 – Nigeria vs Libya; Benin Republic vs Rwanda

October 16 – Libya vs Nigeria; Rwanda vs Benin Republic

November 11 – Benin Republic vs Nigeria; Rwanda vs Libya

November 15 – Nigeria vs Rwanda; Libya vs Benin Republic

The top two teams qualify for AFCON 2025

AFCON

Rohr roars warning to Benin; Nigeria, Rwanda will not be easy

Published

3 weeks ago

July 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Former Nigeria manager, Gernot Rohr now handling Benin Republic has warned The Cheetahs of Benin not to expect an easy match when the team meet Rwanda and Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers later this month.

Last month, he led his team to defeat both Rwanda and Nigeria in World Cup qualifying duels in Abidjan, where Benin Republic are compelled to play their home matches following inadequate facilities at home.

Benin’s 1-0 defeat of Rwanda was Rohr’s first victory with the team. Days later, he followed up with a 2-1 defeat of Nigeria, the first Benin Republic victory in over 65 years.

Those wins have put Benin in the frame of possible qualification for the World Cup. They are now to meet Nigeria and Rwanda again in World Cup qualifiers.

It won’t be easy, remarked Rohr. Hear the Franco-German as he spoke in French but translated into English for the Sports Village Square: “From September we will play against Nigeria before facing Libya and Rwanda.

“These are three difficult opponents. We had already played Rwanda and Nigeria but be careful, it’s not because we won Rwanda and Nigeria that it will be easy matches.

“ We know that it is possible to achieve good performances again. We know that Nigeria with its great players will want to take revenge against us.

“ I think it will probably be an interesting match in Uyo before continuing against Libya. I suppose in Abidjan because in September the Mathieu Kerekou friendship stadium will not be ready.

“Everything will be decided in three months in September, October and November. It’s a difficult group but it’s playable.

“You have to finish in the top two. We had a team that is becoming solid, where the players are like brothers, accomplices. I hope we will recover the players who were absent. We are confident.”

AFCON

Coaches react after intriguing Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers Draw

Published

3 weeks ago

July 5, 2024

Kunle Solaja

The journey towards qualification to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 shifted a gear higher on Thursday, after CAF officially conducted the draw of the qualifiers in Johannesburg South Africa.

A total of 48 nations will vie for the 24 places that will contests the 35th edition of Africa’s most prestigious competition.

This is what some of the coaches has to say in reaction to the draw outcomes.

Emerse Fae, Cote d’Ivoire coach

“I am satisfied because we are going to play against Zambia, a team that we know very well. In our last qualifying campaign, we lost against them. We know what mistakes to avoid.

“I am also satisfied because I did not want to have countries geographically far from Cote d’Ivoire which will lessen the travel load. That said, in Africa, there are no longer small teams. All the teams will want to challenge us because we are the reigning champions”

Leslie Notši

“The draw is very interesting because when you have the host in your group, it means they qualify automatically for the tournament, and you have to double your efforts to secure the remaining qualification spot which will be contested by the three other teams in the group.

“We will work very hard to see to it that we are competitive side and try as much as we can to get maximum points in matches against countries that are with us in our group. It will be very important to do well in our home games and I know all eyes will be on “Morocco as the hosts and a powerhouse in our group. We will draw inspiration from recent games where we played the likes of Nigeria as well as Cote d’voire and were able to frustrate them”

Amir Abdou, Mauritania Coach

“Quite a complicated draw. Egypt will be the big contender for qualification. They have a good track record that speaks volumes.

“Seven times African champions – that’s no small thing. We also have Cape Verde who eliminated us during the last AFCON.

“This team is made up of many quality players. We have Botswana, they are having a good qualifying campaign for the World Cup. We have a pretty strong group. It’s up to us to believe in ourselves. We will do everything we can to achieve our fourth participation in the AFCON”.

Kévin Nicaise, Chad coach

“We are already having the reigning African champions facing the last qualified team in the FIFA rankings. These will definitely be very difficult matches played at high intensity. We will fight to defend our nation’s pride. The group remains relatively open, and we will approach these qualifications with humility and ambition”.

Badou Zaki, Niger coach

“We have every chance of qualifying. For me, Ghana is a football country with a team that is blessed with great professionals. But this is not the team of 5 or 6 years ago. Even at home, they can lose.

“Angola had a good showing at the last AFCON with their beautiful, modern and fast football. It’s a team that shook up the big teams in Cote d’Ivoire.

“I know Sudan very well. They are first in their World Cup qualifying group. They are going to be dangerous, but we know our strengths and we know we can go far”

-CAF