CAF Inspectors in Cameroon for AFCON 2019 Bid

The team from the Confederation of African Football to assess Cameroon's capacity to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations arrived in Cameroon on Tuesday May 13th and began work immediately.

The team led by CAF executive member from Mali, Amadou Diakite and comprises Alioum Djibrine another CAF executive member from Chad, Paul Bassey from Nigeria and Amr Fahmy from Egypt. The fifth member who was supposed to be a FIFA expert was unable to make the trip to Cameroon. The inspectors were first received by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education, Adoum Garoua in his cabinet before proceeding to the Hilton hotel where they listened to Cameroon' bid presented by the Secretary General of Fecafoot, Tombi A Roko. The head of the CAF mission Amadou Diakite said they were only out to listen and take notes to report back to the CAF executive committee in September which will make the final decision. More so, he said candidate countries will have the opportunity to defend their bids at the said CAF executive meeting.

In presenting Cameroon's infrastructural, sports, accommodation, transport and telecommunications assets, the Fecafoot scribe said Cameroon was Africa in miniature in terms of cultural diversity and climate. He also said Cameroon was an island of peace in the midst of a turbulent Africa with a non intervention foreign policy and a positive growth rate. Outlining Cameroon's sports infrastructure, Tombi A Roko Sidiki mentioned the construction of two new stadiums in Douala and Yaounde in addition to the Limbe stadium near completion and the Bafoussam stadium under construction. He said the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium, Roumde-adja in Garoua will be renovated to serve as training and play grounds respectively. He said President Paul Biya was personally engaged in the project and cited the presence of five government ministers at the ceremony as proof of political will to host the competition.

After the presentation, the CAF inspectors proceeded to visit some sports and health facilities in Yaounde. They visited the Ahmadou Ahidjo stadium, the CNPS hospital, Mont Febe, Hilton hotels and the CAF Excellence Centre in Mbankomo. On each lap, the head of the concerned organisation made a brief presentation of what they have to offer. The team goes to the North Region today to inspect the Roumde Adja stadium, the Coton Sport complex and the Garoua international airport. On Thursday the team goes west to inspect the Bafoussam stadium and airport. On Friday they will be in Limbe and round up the visit on Saturday in Douala.