(Reuters) – After a turbulent build-up, and nonetheless underneath a cloud of doubt, the Africa Cup of Nations finals will get underway in Cameroon on Sunday however with the match’s long-term future in doubt.
Africa’s help for FIFA president Gianni Infantino’s proposal to change the frequency of the World Cup to each two years threatens the Cup of Nations, which is already biennial.
Africa’s 54 member associations voted unanimously eventually 12 months’s congress to again the thought of a extra frequent World Cup, however with out discussing how it could have an effect on their very own match on a packed worldwide calendar.
Now increasing to 24-teams, the Cup of Nations is proving to be a pressure on sources.
This version has been twice postponed, first in 2019 when the Confederation of African Football (CAF) discovered the nation was not prepared and took it to Egypt as a substitute, and once more final January as a result of of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cameroon had been awarded the finals in 2014 and constructed new stadiums in Bafoussam, Douala, Limbe and Yaounde however works on the showpiece Olembe Stadium in Yaounde have continued proper up to the beginning of the match, proving a significant supply of concern and rivalry.
So frightened have been CAF concerning the readiness of the venue, plus Cameroon’s basic organisational preparedness, that they held an emergency assembly final month to talk about cancelling the match.
That was additionally motivated by the speedy unfold of the Omicron variant of the novel coronavirus and the potential impression it may need on the occasion however in the top it was determined, amid a lot disagreement, to go forward.
The timing of the match, in the center of the membership season in Europe the place the bulk of African internationals play, drew the ire of golf equipment who additionally sought its cancellation.
They have been involved as effectively about doable quarantine for gamers coming back from Africa to Europe as soon as their participation on the finals was full, which might lengthen the time they have been away from the golf equipment.
Managers like Liverpool’s Juergen Klopp – who has misplaced Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita – have been irritated by the actual fact they’ve to surrender key gamers at a vital juncture of their season.
The Cup of Nations is being performed in January as a result of of the heavy mid-year wet season in Cameroon however will revert again to a June-July slot when Ivory Coast host the following finals in 2023.
The 2025 finals have been awarded to Guinea, however CAF will talk about this week whether or not the nation is in a position to host the match.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ken Ferris)
