AFCON 2019. Cameroon is Ready
This was revealed by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education during a press conference he organized on November 9th, 2018 in Yaounde to explain to Cameroonians how set the country is to host the competition.
Cynthia EFOPA
Seven months to the kickoff of the men African Cup of Nations, preparations have skyrocket in all the infrastructures earmarked to play host to the event. According to the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mpkwatt, “Cameroon has made considerable efforts to respect the prescriptions of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the demands formulated by CAF are implemented by companies who were awarded contracts…and work on the different sites to host the competition are expected to be delivered by the end of December 2018.
Cameroon has reserved a total of 34 stadia were matches will be played. Some for game competition and 26 for training. Of all the stadia, Cameroon Sports Minister mentioned “construction and renovation works are already completed on some and they are operational, while on others, constructors are going through the finished phase”. In the Center Region, the competition will be played at the Ahmadou Ahidjo and the Olembe Stadia, in the South West Region, the Limbe Omnisport Stadium, in the West Region, the Bafoussam stadium, in the North Region, the Rhoumde Adja Staduim and the Douala Japoma and Omnisport Stadium in the Littoral Region.
The Ministry of Tourism and Leisure has already picked out hotels and apartments of high-quality standards to host players, CAF administrators, journalists and spectators while the Ministry of Public Health is up to date with the necessary dispositions to select competent hospitals in host towns and improved on their technical plateau in respect to the health plan. Transport and communication facilities such as roads, air transport, and internet are given special attention, Minister Bidoung remarked.
On September 26 to November 1st, 2018, a four men CAF security mission was in Cameroon to take stock of the security measures put in place by Cameroon authorities. At the end of their facts finding mission, they made certain proposals but were generally satisfied with the security belt in all the stadia, hotels and sites chosen.
During his oath taking ceremony, President Paul Biya personally made commitments to organize a successful and hitch free competition “I will persist in devoting all my efforts to give the sporting sector the support it deserves, so that our efforts to host the CAN 2019 receive the desired awards.”
Before now, there has been a series of controversy on social media on Cameroons hosting rights of the 2019 African Cup of Nations. Rumors held that Cameroons hosting right has been withdrawn by CAF and given to Morocco. The arrival of CAF president to Cameroon, Ahmad Ahmad, finally settled the dust on the matter. He was clear, Cameroons hosting right of the 2019 African Cup of Nations has not been withdrawn and the CAF has no intentions to do so.
