AFCON

Cameroon Alleges Plans to Revoke Afcon 2019 Hosting Rights

Published

7 years ago

August 7, 2017

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

In a thinly veiled displeasure, the Football Federation of Cameroon (FECAFOOT) has reacted to speculations that Cameroon is not ready to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
FECAFOOT remarked that despite the competition being two years away, “a campaign of intoxication and disinformation” has filled the air despite the efforts deployed and assurances of the Government of Cameroon.
In a press statement signed by Tombi A. Roko, the FECAFOOT president and sent to Sports Village Square on Monday night, the football governing body frowned at statements credited to Ahmad, the CAF president at a press conference in Burkina Faso.
The statement is in French but was translated via Google translator. According to FECAFOOT statement sent to Sports Village Square, Ahmad was quoted as saying: “in the current state of things, no site in Cameroon is able to host the African Cup of Nations football”. FECAFOOT remarked that it “is deeply concerned by the fact that these remarks are made even before the first inspection mission of the CAF, scheduled for 20 to 28 August 2017”.
According to FECAFOOT which strongly suspected that there were moves to revoke the hosting rights from Cameroon, it wondered the rationale behind the proposed inspection tour since it appeared to have made up its mind that Cameroon was not going to be ready to host the premier African football competition.
FECAFOOT remarked that it was curious that the date of the first CAF inspection mission was unilaterally changed from September to August 2017 without notice. It pointed out that the successful hosting of the African Women Championship late last year should be a pointer of the excellent service delivery that Cameroon can offer.
The women football tournament took place in Yaoundé, Mfandena, Buéa and Limbe. The football went on to remark that it got letter of commendation from CAF as well as from Coup de Cœur du Jury of the Heavent Awards in Cannes which rewards the best event performances around the world.
As regards the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, FECAFOOT remarked that , on the basis of the specifications agreed with CAF, launched a vast program of construction and rehabilitation of its sports infrastructures, valued at hundreds of billions Of CFA francs.
It pointed out it is receiving assistances from friendly countries. These were enumerated thus:
• Italy, for the construction by PICCINI of the sports complex of Olembé, which includes, in particular, a covered stadium with 60,000 seats and two training stadiums, various sports facilities and a four-star hotel with seventy rooms.
• Turkey, for the construction by YENIGUN of the Japoma sports complex, which includes a 50,000-seat stadium and two training stadiums, various sports facilities and accommodation facilities for seventy rooms;
• Canada for the rehabilitation of SODEVI, the Reunification Stadium and a stadium, as well as four training grounds in Bafoussam; – France, for the rehabilitation, by the company ALCOR, Stadiums of Mbappe Lepe and Bonamoussadi; –
• United Kingdom for the rehabilitation by MOTA ENGIL of the Stade Roumde Adjia de Garoua and the construction of an annex stadium and a four-star hotel with seventy rooms; –
• United States of America, for the rehabilitation by the company PRIME POTOMAC, of four training stages, the Hotel La Bénoué and the construction of a four-star hotel of seventy rooms;
• China, for the already effective construction of the Stadiums Omnisports of Limbé and Bafoussam, approved by the CAF.
Continuing, FECAFOOT remarked that it can also boast, in addition to the support of those friendly countries and partner companies, of the Cameroonian people’s full support for the proposed organization of Africa Cup of Nations 2019.
“It is difficult, after the above-mentioned remarks by the CAF President, not to pay attention to persistent rumours about the existence of a conspiracy to withdraw the organization of CAN 2019 in favour of another CAN country:
“It is particularly curious that it has been decided that the recent reforms made in the organization of the African Football Cup, apply immediately to CAN 2019. Such a situation, which unilaterally caused the specifications previously concluded between Cameroon and CAF, amounts to a change of the rules of the game during the game.
“However, it is settled case-law that changes in the conduct of a competition do not apply to the one to be organized immediately after their adoption. For example, the decision by the FIFA Council to change the format of the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams will not apply to Russia in 2018 or Qatar in 2022.

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