By Andrew Warshaw
July 28 – Cameroon have again come out fighting over suggestions they will be unable to stage the African Cup of Nations in 2019 when the tournament is expanded to 24 teams.
Rumours that key contracts have not been signed 20 months from the start of the competition have been met with growing questions over why the Confederation of African Football (CAF) made such a radical move in the middle of Cameroon’s preparations rather than wait until the subsequent edition in 2021. Was it because, some commentators are asking, new CAF president Ahmad Ahmad wanted to put down a strong marker after replacing his long-serving predecessor Issa Hayatou, who just happened to be from Cameroon?
For 24 teams, at least two more stadiums will be needed, not to mention improvements in training facilities, transport and hotel infrastructure.
The new format will place a heavy burden on organisers and André Nguidjol, former Secretary General of Fécafoot told a local radio station: “I think it’s a polite way to put Cameroon off-course. You cannot decide to change a regulation in midstream.”
Meanwhile CAF is to announce on August 28 whether hosting rights for the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) will remain with Kenya, when they send a team for another round of inspection.
“CAF are unhappy with our state of readiness for CHAN and they have not made it a secret. I got ‘fried’ in a meeting with the CAF executive (which said) that Kenya is not ready and we are wasting their time,” Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa Mwendwa was quoted as saying.
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