September 5 – CAF president Ahmad Ahmad (pictured) has once more casts doubts over Cameroon’s hosting of the 2019 African Cup of Nations, suggesting again that the tournament may still be moved.
Next year’s African Cup of Nations will for the first time be played with 24 teams after CAF decided to expand the tournament from 16 teams. The expansion has made Cameroon’s staging of CAF’s flagship tournament controversial as the president of the governing body has repeatedly expressed his doubts over Cameroon’s hosting abilities.
“I am not sure Cameroon is ready to host the AFCON,” Ahmad told KweséESPN. “There are many things which are still wanting and yet there is little time left.
“It would be dangerous to risk African players, especially the professionals plying their trade in Europe and other continents, to play under difficult conditions and facilities.”
Last February Ahmad had urged Cameroon to step up preparations as an inspection found the nation’s preparations wanting. Ever since, the CAF president has almost made it a habit to question Cameroon’s suitability to stage the tournament with Morocco often touted as a possible replacement host, but last March Royal Moroccan Football Federation President Fouzi Lekjaa ruled out his country stepping in at the last minute.
Cameroon has always remained adamant that they can stage the tournament in spite of the expanded format and preparations were stepped up last year by shipping in stadium components and components for the training complexes, but Ahmad seemingly remains unconvinced.
“If you asked me, Cameroon would be the best country to host the AFCON now because of their football history, but there are still some questions about their readiness to host a successful tournament,” stressed Ahmad.
“Cameroon are still having big problems with infrastructure like the pitches and even hotels,” added Ahmad. “Equatorial Guinea jumped in at the last moment to host 2015 AFCON and this can also happen.”
Cameroon have not staged the continent’s flagship tournament since 1972 and CAF will meet on September 30 in an Extraordinary General Assembly in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, to further deliberate about Cameroon’s hosting credentials.
“If you are not ready, come out open and say you are not ready,” said Ahmad. “In 1996, Burkina Faso was supposed to host the AFCON but said they were not ready, and South Africa took up the chance to host.”
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