{"id":213284,"date":"2022-01-11T18:16:07","date_gmt":"2022-01-11T16:16:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/drama-delays-and-domestic-unrest-why-hosting-afcon-is-so-important-for-cameroon\/"},"modified":"2022-01-11T18:16:07","modified_gmt":"2022-01-11T16:16:07","slug":"drama-delays-and-domestic-unrest-why-hosting-afcon-is-so-important-for-cameroon","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/drama-delays-and-domestic-unrest-why-hosting-afcon-is-so-important-for-cameroon\/","title":{"rendered":"Drama, delays and domestic unrest: why hosting Afcon is so important for Cameroon"},"content":{"rendered":"

A year later than planned, due to COVID-19, the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon)<\/a> has successfully kicked off in Cameroon. The opening match<\/a> of the 33rd edition of Afcon took place in Yaound\u00e9, the capital of Cameroon. In the spectacular opener, Cameroon came from behind to beat Burkina Faso after captain Vincent Aboubakar scored two penalty kicks. <\/p>\n

For Cameroon, there is intensifying pressure to host a successful tournament for both on-pitch and off-pitch reasons.<\/p>\n

It is 50 years since the country hosted the continental football showpiece. Given that the Afcon is hosted every two years \u2013 and given the Cameroon\u2019s youthful population<\/a> \u2013 few locals will have first-hand recollections of the 1972 tournament. <\/p>\n

There is a palpable sense of pride that Cameroon is hosting the Cup of Nations again. It\u2019s a very different competition to the 1972 event. The biggest difference is sheer size. It has grown from an eight-team tournament with only six players based in clubs outside of Africa, to a 24 team tournament with 404 players based at European clubs plus others in the US, China, South Korea, India, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n

As the group stage begins, hosting a successful tournament matters on many levels. On the pitch, Cameroon\u2019s Samuel Eto’o<\/a> has recently begun his presidency of the national football federation and expectations are high for the hosts to perform well on home soil<\/a>. Economically, businesses in Cameroon all have their eyes on a revival and boost in revenue<\/a>. And, off the field, it is vitally important from a political perspective \u2013 given ongoing domestic unrest, security issues and a lack of national unity.<\/p>\n

Bumpy road<\/h2>\n

Cameroon was due to host the tournament in 2019. But in November 2018, the organisers stripped the country<\/a> of its hosting rights, citing a lack of confidence in the Central African nation\u2019s readiness based on infrastructure<\/a>. The tournament was given to Egypt<\/a> with Cameroon given hosting rights for 2021. <\/p>\n

There have been further delays since. First, the Confederation of African Football moved the tournament forward to January 2021 to avoid Cameroon\u2019s rainy season<\/a>. Then the tournament has delayed to 2022 because of the COVID pandemic. <\/p>\n

Even by December 2021 there were rumours the country wouldn\u2019t be hosting<\/a> the tournament. The president of the Confederation of African Football arrived in Yaound\u00e9 to discuss concerns around organisation, incomplete building work and the threat of coronavirus outbreaks among players and staff.<\/p>\n

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Read more: Why losing the African Cup of Nations is a heavy blow for Cameroon<\/a> <\/strong> <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

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There are also continued concerns about ongoing domestic unrest in the country \u2013 a socio-political dispute which can be traced back to the end of the French and British colonial legacy and the formation of Cameroon as an independent state<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The well-documented divide relates to Anglophone Cameroonians, who constitute 20% of the population, feeling marginalised and exploited by the Francophone-dominated state and population<\/a>. A series of grievances recently morphed<\/a> into political demands, strikes and riots. The government maintains it has a fair governance structure, yet English speaking Cameroonians still feel oppressed. <\/p>\n

Government powers and Anglophone separatists have engaged in increasingly brutal violence amid reprisals to lay down their weapons and return to community life. In addition, government authorities have detained opposition activists who pursue outright separation from Cameroon with a new state called \u201cAmbazonia\u201d<\/a>. This is a major challenge regarding national unity and security. <\/p>\n

The separatist movement signalled its intention to disrupt the tournament<\/a>. A few days before kick-off, separatist fighters set off an improvised explosive device in Limbe, the coastal city due to host Afcon matches. Six were injured and property destroyed. <\/p>\n

Uniting the nation<\/h2>\n

Football is the \u201cking sport\u201d<\/a> in Cameroon. But it has become more than a sport, with many Cameroonians arguing that football is politics<\/a>. Previous research studies<\/a> show that football plays a very prominent role in building nationalism and unity in Cameroon. It\u2019s therefore no surprise that the government has used football as bait to gain some form of stability when its power has been at stake. <\/p>\n

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\"A<\/div>\n

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Cameroon fans.<\/span> KEPSEU\/Xinhua via Getty Images<\/span><\/span> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Even President Paul Biya said ahead of the football mega event that hosting the tournament should help enhance unity and solidarity<\/a>: <\/p>\n

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We want it (Afcon) to be a great moment of brotherhood. Let us offer our guests the rich cultural diversity that has earned our country the nickname \u201cAfrica in miniature\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

What to expect on the field<\/h2>\n

So, after all the delays, drama and ongoing domestic unrest, we are finally here, and the hosts are keen to focus on the opportunities ahead.<\/p>\n

On the field, Cameroon will continue to try and impress. Despite winning the tournament five times, it is Egypt who lead the way, with \u201cThe Pharaohs\u201d having lifted the trophy a record seven times. Cameroon has less than a 3% chance of winning if you believe the betting market odds and team rankings at The Analyst<\/a> website. And no host has won the competition since Egypt did back in 2006. Nevertheless, Cameroon arrives at the competition in good form after recently securing a place in the FIFA World Cup qualification third round.<\/p>\n

Reigning Champions Algeria look strong favourites to win again, they are unbeaten in all matches since 2018 and have a favourable group on paper. Captained by Manchester City\u2019s Riyad Mahrez, they will be full of confidence after winning last month\u2019s FIFA Arab Cup<\/a> in Doha. <\/p>\n

2019 Afcon runners-up Senegal will be looking to go one better this year and come into the competition with the highest ranking of 20th in the world<\/a>. The team got off to the best possible start with Liverpool\u2019s Sadio Man\u00e9 scoring a dramatic last minute penalty winner in their first match<\/a> versus Zimbabwe.<\/p>\n

But the constant threat of COVID-19 could play an unwanted role within the competition and there have already been reported cases<\/a> in several squads: Cameroon, Senegal, Burkina Faso, Egypt, Gabon Tunisia, Malawi, Cape Verde Islands, and Ivory Coast. New guidelines<\/a> outlined this week \u2013 that teams who have a COVID-19 outbreak must field 11 players even if they do not have a fit goalkeeper \u2013 could make this competition one that won\u2019t be forgotten.<\/p>\n

And one person of note for Afcon 2021 will be referee Salima Mukansanga<\/a> from Rwanda. One of 63 officials, she will be the first female to referee at the championships.<\/p>\n

Sheffield Hallam University lecturer Becky Ashworth provided additional research and writing contributions to this article.<\/em><\/p>\n

Source: The Conversation<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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