Fez – Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2022 has brought many concerns over the previous months as African Football Confederation (CAF) officials, international media outlets, and renowned sports figures discussed the possible postponement of Africa’s most significant football event. Meanwhile, the CAF president is expected to give the final say about the subject matter in the next couple of days.
CAF’s President Patrice Motsepe has arrived today in Cameroon’s capital Yaounde to discuss the final decision concerning AFCON 2022, which is expected to take place in Cameroon. Concluding discussions with Cameroon authorities the final decision should be announced in the next two days.
Motsepe will be accompanied by his vice-president Augustin Senghor and the newly-elected president of the Cameroonian Football Federation Samuel Eto’o to reflect on the current situation in Cameroon and decide the destiny of the African Cup of Nations 2022.
The three officials had already met on December 19 in Doha, Qatar, where a meeting of CAF’s Executive Committee was held to discuss the future of the next edition of AFCON 2022.
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Upon his arrival, CAF president seemed very optimistic about the upcoming meetings’ overall outcome, indicating that the concerned parties intend to carry this tournament to a safe conclusion.
“This is our home [Cameroon]. This is the home of Africa. We will discuss today and tomorrow and come back to you afterward. We are very clear about our commitments: to make the AFCON 2022 a success in Cameroon,” stated CAF president amid his arrival to Cameroon.
In this visit, Motsepe will be ahead of a busy schedule that will see him visit Cameroon’s president Paul Biya at the presidential palace as well as Olembe Stadium that is expected to host both the opening and final games of AFCON 2022.
The 2022 AFCON has been subject to much discussion lately, inquiring about a possible postponement of the tournament. In recent months, many CAF officials have raised concerns about the state of readiness in Cameroon only months before the tournament’s kick-off.
More recently, England’s Premier League teams have also been reluctant to send their African players to participate in the AFCON amid rising rates of COVID-19 infections. The clubs want solid guarantees about the safety protocols for players during the tournament.
