AFCON 2019: Ivory Coast, Guinea Conakry may replace Cameroon as hosts

Rumours circulating at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) headquarters in Cairo suggest that the body would be ready to activate plan B for the organization of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Countries are already prepared in the starting blocks such as Côte d’Ivoire or Guinea Conakry. CAF has made it clear that the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) is not a legitimate and recognized office.

This development surprises many because such was never heard until Ahmad Ahmad took over power from Issa Hayatou as new CAF Boss.

According to a report by a newspaper called Sans Détour, CAF was responding to a correspondence from the Cameroon Minister of Sports and Physical Education on the implementation of decisions of the Local Organizing Committee of AFCON 2019.

In its Monday 3^rd July edition, the newspaper stated that CAF does not have a contact person at the level of the Cameroonian Football Federation. It is undoubtedly a consequence of the legal drama between the camp of Abdouraman and Joseph Antoine Bell, against team Tombi A Roko.

As a result, CAF is delaying the inspection missions of the stadia in Cameroon selected to host the 2019 AFCON. The newspaper also detailed that this situation has prompted FIFA to invite the protagonists to a meeting of conciliation on July 10 in Conakry in Guinea.

FIFA’s Stance on the FECAFOOT Crisis

Fifa has signed a letter declaring its incompetence in the handling of the post-electoral crisis between FECAFOOT and chairman of Etoile Filante Garoua, Abdouraman Amadou Baba.

Abdouraman

In a letter signed on 26^th June 2017, the director of the Department of Discipline, James Cambreleng, warned the parties that World’s football governing body, FIFA, was not competent in implementing decisions of the Court of Arbitration for Sports, TAS, in a case against a decision taken at the national level.

The letter had come to answer Mr. Abdouraman who had written three letters requesting FIFA to execute TAS’ verdict of February 27, 2017, which questioned the validity of Tombi A Roko’s election to the helm of Cameroon’s football.

Tombi

According to the FIFA disciplinary code, the institution can only rule on issues of non-respect of the decisions of an organ, a committee and others.

After stating FIFA’s stance on the case, Mr. James Cambreleng advised FECAFOOT to take measures it deems necessary according to its rules and regulations to implement the decisions of TAS. 

Abdouraman, other members of the opposition and FECAFOOT officials are expected to take part in a reconciliation meeting in Conakry on July 10, 2017, prior to the FIFA seminar scheduled for the 12^th and 13^th. 

However, some sources claim the Etoile Filante president and Domingo Akoue Epie of Jeunesse Star have opted not to attend.

The Genesis of the recent wave

FIFA in collaboration with the CAS convened conflicting factions and personalities over the validity of Tombi A Roko Sidiki’s presidency at the Cameroon Football Federation, FECAFOOT.

According to the letter addressed to FECAFOOT on the 3^rd of May 2017 by FIFA’s Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, the following football actors in Cameroon were expected in Switzerland in June for a conciliation meeting:

Etoile Filante president Abdouraman Ahmadu, Joseph Antoine Bell of Banjoun FC, Nkou Mvondo of Ngaoundere FC, Domingo Akoué Epié of Jeunesse Star and Balogog John of Authentic FC. They were to be accompanied by some FECAFOOT officials, Tombi A Roko in pparticular.

The letter further prescribed frank dialogue in Zurich to mark an end to the disorder in the Cameroon football landscape. 

Initially scheduled for the 3^rd of June, FIFA issued another release postponing the conciliatory meeting to the 3^rd of August 2017. But it will appear the said Zurich meeting will now hold in Conakry on the 10^th of this month.

Cameroonians’ anxiety for a lasting solution to this rigmarole has died down, and reconciliation still seems far-fecthed as Abdouraman and Domingo Akoué Epié exclude themselves from the would-be Conakry conclave.