CAF President Should Apologize to Cameroon, Senator Mbella Moki

The second national vice President of the Cameroon Football Federation says the president of the Confederation of African Football, CAF, Ahmad Ahmad should apologize to Cameroon after he said the country will not be fit to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

Speaking to this reporter on Tuesday 8 August, 2017, Senator Mbella Moki Charles refuted the claims by the new CAF Boss that Cameroon may not be fit to host the expanded showpiece come 2019.

“This is an outcome of inexperience in a high office like the President of CAF. The statement is uncalled for at this time. We have hosted the 2016 AWCON, and it was recorded as one of the best organized in that domain. 2019 is about two more years ahead of us.

Cameroon deserves an apology from the President of CAF, and we shall take him to task in our subsequent meetings with him.”

"I can assure the football loving people of Cameroon that Mr Ahmad’s utterance will not deter our determination to work toward a successful hosting” the Senator added.   

The former FA President of the South West Region of Cameroon further emphasized that the said region alone has internationally qualified stadia. 

Note that in a press release signed on Monday 7 August, 2017, Cameroon’s FA President Tombi A Roko, also refuted the outburst by the Malagasy, saying it was too early to judge whether his country will host or not because the competition is still far ahead.

Even Mr Ahmad’s predecessor Issa Hayatou has said the move was ill-advised. Talking to reporters in Yaoundé on Tuesday 8 August, the now Board Chair of the National Football Academy of Cameroon (ANAFOOT) says Ahmad should have made his comments after a CAF inspection visit later this August.

Ahmad has said the inspection visit from 20-28 August will not be carried out by Caf Executive Committee officials, as has happened in the past, but outside experts.