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Haspres – A. F. B
Thursday 06 December 2018 – 07.30
Will Cameroon host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 instead of Ivory Coast and will the latter organize 2023 instead of Guinea? A question that circulates since the announcement last week by the European Football Confederation (CAF) to withdraw accommodation from the 2019 version of Cameroon and comments from its president, Ahmed Ahmed, have raised questions about the next three editions.
In 2014, under the reign of its former president Issa Hayatou, the African Union approved the host countries of the three versions: Cameroon 2019, Côte d'Ivoire 2021 and Guinea 2023. But the Union announced Friday the withdrawal of the Cameroon organization in the context of the slow completion of its preparations and security, About seven months after the planned continental tournament.
The Union has reopened the bid for the host and hopes to nominate a new host country by the end of the year, although no country has officially announced its intention to run for the tournament, which has 24 teams instead of 16.
After the decision to withdraw the tournament in Cameroon sparked strong criticism from the country's authorities, the president of the continental union then spoke to anger the national badociations concerned with the organization of future editions. of the tournament.
Cameroon: Compensation in 2021?
The chairman of the communication committee of the Cameroonian organizing committee, Felix Zoogo, said his country would not accept the withdrawal of the organization, calling the decision a "farce".
The Cameroonian Ministry of Information strongly criticized the African Union after announcing the withdrawal of its organization, saying the decision was "unfair", pledging to complete all the work to be organized at time.
However, in a later statement to the African channel Media TV, he seemed to want to try to please Cameroon. "Delay all the African nations (for the leaders) to give Cameroon another chance, more time to complete its infrastructure, Mandatory".
"By 2021, they will be ready: we will organize the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon and in 2023, we will organize the tournament in Ivory Coast," he said at a press conference. meeting in Accra, capital of Ghana, on 30 November.
Cameroon has not yet revealed whether it would appeal the decision to withdraw the CAS organization, but the announcement of its intention to do the job on time seemed to prove that He could organize the tournament between June 15th and July 13th.
Côte d'Ivoire 2023 at the expense of Guinea?
"I think we were wrong to give them (Cameroon) to host 2021. This error will be the target of Cbad," he said. "No rule allows us to do that," he said. In court) if it is the Cameroonian option ".
But if Cameroon accepts the 2021 version, it will be a problem with Cote d 'Ivoire, which will wait two years to organize a promised tournament.
According to Ahmed, Cote d 'Ivoire is "not ready" to accommodate the 2021 version, a position also criticized by the local federation of gambling.
"None of the official authorities or football in the country has been contacted by the African Union," the statement said.
Guinea, which is to host the 2023 edition, has not mentioned Ahmed, even in his controversial remarks.
Who hosts the 2019 version?
In the middle of this labyrinth, the most pressing question seems to arise: who is hosting 2019?
Press reports suggest a country from two countries: Morocco or South Africa.
The Kingdom of Morocco is able to logistically host its infrastructure, sports facilities and hotels. Morocco has also hosted the Pan African Nations Cup this year ("CHAN" 2018) and has been nominated to host the 2026 World Cup.
"If Morocco wishes to host the Africa Cup, it will be the best candidate to organize and make this event a success, even if it starts tomorrow," said Abdelmalek Abroun, member of the committee's infrastructure committee. the Moroccan Union.
According to press reports that Egypt may apply, local union spokesman Ahmed Mujahid on Tuesday "does not intend to do so", noting that his country "will support all Arab country having asked the organization ".
South Africa, the only African country to host the World Cup (2010), confirmed that the theme of hosting had been put forward.
The AU said that the African Union had asked him to "seriously consider the organization of 2019", adding that "going for the 2019 version is important for Africa." of the South, which remains a major player on the continent and in the world ".
South Africa was the host country for the 2013 version instead of Libya, the latter having withdrawn from its hosting role due to the political and security situation. Morocco was to host the 2015 edition, but has apologized for fears of the spread of the Ebola virus.
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