Cameroon has received a huge boost in its preparations to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after China offered to offer help in order to ensure a smooth competition.
There have been concerns in some quarters over the country’s ability to organize the continental football tournament that will as from 2019 see an increase in the number of participating teams from 16 in four pools to 24 in six pools.
While speaking at a press conference in the Burkinabe capital Ouagadougou on August 6, President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad said “if the competition were to be organized now, Cameroon will not be able to host even four teams!”
Ahmad Ahmad however promised that an inspection team (made up for the first time of independent consultants instead of CAF members) will be dispatched to Cameroon from August 20 on an 8-day mission to assess the level of preparations for Africa’s most prestigious football tournament.
China has now chipped in to ensure the Central African nation holds the showpiece without a hitch.
“I am convinced that Cameroon will organize a successful AFCON tournament in 2019,” Chinese Ambassador to Cameroon Wei Wenhua said after meeting Cameroon’s Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Bidoung Mkpatt.
The Ambassador disclosed that China partly financed and constructed the Limbe and Bafoussam stadia. Limbe Stadium hosted Pool B matches during last year’s women’s AFCON, while Bafoussam Stadium will be used for the 2019 AFCON.
Following the fears that Cameroon might be unable to host the event, Morocco showed its readiness to take up the hosting rights, saying it was ready to host any event.
The North African country last week also said it would bid to host the 2026 World Cup, and if successful, will be the second African country to host the World showpiece.
