A Confederation of African Football-appointed inspection team will visit Cameroon for eight days from 20 August 2017 to assess the country’s progress as it prepares to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. Cameroon government spokesman Issa Tchiroma Bakary announced the details, saying organisers should not worry.

“This inspection mission, like those that will follow throughout the process towards the deadline of the event, is not aimed at sanctioning,” said Tchiroma.

“On the contrary, it is an opportunity for any changes and consultation in order to ascertain the state of preparedness and to readjust as necessary the strategy for the full success of the event,” he added.

The 2019 tournament in Cameroon will feature 24 teams instead of 16 for the first time in history and will be held in June and July rather than January and February. Cameroon, as well as being hosts, will be the defending champions having won the 2017 title earlier this year in Gabon.

Speaking in Yaounde, Tchiroma cautioned the media to stop sending out negative signals which he said undermine Cameroon’s ability to stage this event.

He warned that such an “unjustified attitude” had led some countries to think they could step in for Cameroon to host the 2019 event, and said that sending out misleading allegations is “unacceptable, a betrayal and an act of hostility” against their fatherland.

Last month, Cameroon’s Sports Minister Ismael Bidoung assured the public that Cameroon would be ready on time. Tchiroma reiterated this, and stated that the Cameroonian government, in collaboration with the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) will work closely with President Paul Biya as well as the Prime Minister, other companies and partners who he said are all committed to providing a good standard of infrastructure by their deadline.

“The mission will visit each of the sites selected for the event and inspect all infrastructure involved in the organisation of the event in terms of sport, hotel, roads, airport, hospitals, and telecommunications. “Each time there is an assessment, it will be followed by a general report on future deadlines,” said Tchiroma.

Culled from the BBC

What has been a fine start for the Super Eagles boss has become a tense situation, but he needs to be given room to work. There was fear of the unknown when Gernot Rohr took over as head coach of the Super Eagles, replacing Sunday Oliseh last August, but a six-game unbeaten run, which included wins away at Zambia and at home to Algeria in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, had seen a renewed believe in the national team.

However, last month’s 2-0 home loss to South Africa in the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was a reality check for the German tactician. Rohr has come under heavy criticism for his team selection in Uyo, and with the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee set to come in between the former Burkina Faso gaffer’s squad selection criteria, reports are circulating that he is ready to quit just before the Super Eagles tackle reigning African champions Cameroon in a crunch double-header next month.

It’s a match that could determine whether the West African giants make it to Russia in good time or not, but again, the fixture is in danger of being overshadowed by uncertainty at the Glass House. Rohr has denied those resignation reports but such shouldn’t be surfacing at a time such as this.

The defeat to Bafana Bafana might have been an eyesore, particularly because it was Bafana Bafana’s first competitive victory over Nigeria, but we need to be reminded that Rohr didn’t have his strongest squad available. There might have been suggestions on whom he should have started instead of the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho, Ogenyi Onazi, Elderson Echiejile, Chidozie Awaziem and Daniel Akpeyi, who were all below par that evening, but only the coach knows his best selection.

Chris Green’s NFF technical committee, football enthusiasts and other stakeholders must ensure they don’t meddle in Rohr’s affairs, especially not at such a critical time. His immediate plan is to get the Super Eagles to the World Cup next year and that’s on the horizon as they top Group B of the qualifiers and lead Cameroon by four points.
Nigerian coaches have always had a history of their operations been interfered by the NFF and this has led to them not staying too long on the job but this shouldn’t be the same for Rohr.

He might have a short-term objective but what he has laid down shows he’s building something for the future. The German has gone for youth and blended them in with some experienced faces, and it’s an approach that could yield results if given time and space. Pressure had been put on Rohr to include some players from the Nigeria Professional Football League in the Super Eagles squad. He has done that, but the truth is NPFL players are not yet ready to be blooded in these high-intensity qualifiers. The African Nations Championship is where that can be achieved.

Rohr already faces a selection dilemma with the Super Eagles, particularly with number one Carl Ikeme diagnosed with acute leukaemia and captain Mikel John Obi still trying to get back to full fitness after many months on the sidelines. What he certainly doesn’t need is outside influence from within the NFF technical committee or anywhere else. If the overall objective of making it to the World Cup isn’t reached, the Franco-German knows he has failed and his time is up. Till then, it’s best he is left alone to do what he was appointed to do.

Source: Goal.com

We reported earlier about the decision by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) to expand the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) from 16 to 24 teams and moving the competition to June/July.

Implementing the changes for the next tournament, less than two years away, heaps more pressure on the hosts of Afcon 2019 Cameroon.

Caf say they’ll go on an inspection tour in September to check on progress, with the country already facing questions over its preparations. The 50% increase in participants intensifies that.

Cameroon sports minister Ismael Bidoung told Reuters news agency:

I would like to reassure the national and international opinion that the government is fully committed to fulfilling the Caf’s specifications and to date, no Caf mission has reported any delay in preparations.”

Meanwhile Morocco have made it clear they would be prepared to step in if needed.

Source: BBC