Cameroonian media denied access to Cote d'Ivoire training

Cameroonian media men who wanted to cover the training on Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the Stade La Paz were denied access under the instructions of the Ivorian Football Federation.

Cameroonian Journalists, cameramen and photographers were 'persona non gratta' at the workout of the Elephants of Cote d'Ivoire, Thursday, January 22, 2015 at the stadium of La Paz in Malabo. They were sent away by Guinean police executing instructions from the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF).


"The Ivorian Federation asked us not to admit the Cameroonian press, we respect that advice," said Equatorial Guinea policeman at the insistent group of disappointed Cameroonian reporters.


"We are first surprised because, since the beginning of the competition, we are allowed to capture the workouts of the Indomitable Lions and the international, European and African press were present to cover without any restrictions.


This morning, when we wanted to cover the workout of the Lions originally scheduled at this time, we were surprised to find out that it was Côte d'Ivoire training as the lions had been rescheduled to 4 p.m. in another stadium.


It therefore came as a surprise to us when the security forces told us that we cannot have access to the workout of Ivory Coast." André Mirabeau Mahop, reporter for Canal 2 International noted.

The team of ABK TV present inside the stadium before the arrival of the Ivorian selection were simply dismissed.


"We were very disappointed because the most important thing for us is to meet the demands of thousands of people who follow us but unfortunately miss out on this information; it really bothers us and it hinders our work. "I think we should review this kind of attitude to enable everyone to do his job", Olivier Téko, cameraman at the Bonamoussadi based television channel in Douala said regrettably.


"We are disappointed because we came to cover the AFCON and all teams should be accessible. And if Côte d'Ivoire today wants to work in isolation, then it is very unfortunate.”


Yesterday the meeting according to the Indomitable Lions match was open to all the press, national and international from the beginning to the end.


Today, the Ivorians are a little upside and it upsets us too because, at this point where we're nearing the quarterfinals, we risk not been allowed to even hold press conferences.