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The African Football Confederation (CAF) will decide on November 30, 2018 in Accra whether or not the final phase of the Africa Cup of Nations 2019 (June 15-July 13) will take place on Cameroon soil.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will decide on November 30, 2018 in Accra. Or not … Nothing can be excluded about the fate of Cameroon as a host country for the 2019 African Cup of Nations. Including that CAF gives itself an ultimate moment of reflection, just under seven months of the final phase (June 15-July 13).
This Friday morning, the Executive Committee (ComEx) of the CAF will notably study reports written following the last two inspection visits to Cameroon. The first, from 27 October to 1 November, concerned security. The second, held from 11 to 15 November, was a final analysis of facilities and infrastructure.
Deadly delays?
Delays were again noted on this occasion. Are they sufficient to justify a possible change of host country or a postponement of the CAN in Cameroon to 2021 or even 2023? And, if the ComEx takes such a decision against the opinion of the Cameroonian authorities, is it certain to be able to defend its choice with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), for example?
On the side of the Cameroonian press, present in mass in Accra, one displays its confidence. In recent months, we have been working hard to ensure that shipyards are completed in a timely manner. In addition, President Paul Biya had made the holding of the CAN in 2019 a promise, before his re-election on October 22, 2018. Under these conditions, outright withdrawal or postponement would be poorly perceived by many Cameroonians.
For several months, the boss of the African Football Confederation has also become the target of many media and Cameroonian netizens. Since he defeated Issa Hayatou for the presidency of CAF in March 2017, Ahmad has, in fact, stopped blowing hot and cold about CAN 2019 in Cameroon.
Ahmad's ambiguous speech
Accused of working behind the scenes for Morocco, one of the countries that supported him against Hayatou, the Malagasy was especially moved by the progress of the preparations. Most recently, he pointed out the absence of a football federation in Cameroon, the FECAFOOT being currently managed by a standardization committee.
But Ahmad's speech has evolved in recent months. He first reminded many times that the ComEx did not want to withdraw CAN 2019 Cameroonians but that the latter might force the CAF to do so. Then he pointed out that Cameroon would withdraw de facto from the organization of the tournament, not being totally ready. Finally, after an interview with Paul Biya, he invited Cameroon to say if he wanted more time to host the competition. An ambiguous way to urge the Cameroonian authorities to demand a postponement to 2021.
A report difficult to organize
This last option seems, for several weeks, to have the favor of certain leaders of ComEx. But it is not the easiest to implement. Because it supposes the cooperation of the Cameroonians, but also that of the Ivorians, even that of the Guineans, supposed respectively to shelter the CAN 2021 and 2023. On the Ivorian side, a source indicates thus that no discussion on the subject was led until now with CAF.
It would also remain to find a new host country. The North African Football Union has recently supported Morocco, creating controversy. This is not the first time that an institution or a person displays its desire to see the Sherifian Kingdom recover CAN 2019.
More recently, Ahmad himself referred to South Africa and Egypt as credible remedies. Countries that offer, a priori, standards more in line with those that the Malagasy wants for the Africa Cup of Nations. This one based all his argument on a professionalization of the African football.
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