Ghana and Morocco captains during AFCON group B contender (photo: AP)
FIFTY years after the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on its own territory, Cameroon finally got the chance to do it again. It is hosting the month-long tournament, which started on 9 January, after failing to be ready in 2019, after which it was postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 1972, eight countries played in the AFCON in Cameroon. Today, that number has increased to 24 teams as part of the continent’s most prestigious football championship.
The teams playing in this 33rd edition are constantly looking over their shoulders in fear of the coronavirus and its variants that in the run-up to the tournament created the most headlines. Several teams were hit by Covid-19 before the tournament could even start. Attendances in Cameroon’s stadiums, including the 60,000-capacity Olembe Stadium in Yaoundé, are capped to 80 per cent for Cameroon matches and 60 per cent for all other games, while supporters must be double-vaccinated and have a negative test.
As Covid menacingly swirls about, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has taken what can only be described as over the top measures to try to ensure that things don’t get out of hand. It has announced that even if a team has only 11 fit players, it must play on – even if a goalkeeper is not among them. Any team that refuses to play will be deemed to have forfeited the match and will have automatically lost 2-0.
The restrictions did not prevent colourful opening festivities on Sunday which highlighted Cameroonian culture and watched by Cameroon’s 88-year-old President Paul Biya, who has ruled the Central African country for 40 years, as well as FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF head Patrice Motsepe.
The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon did not disappoint, beating group team Burkina Faso 2-1 despite being a goal down.
By Monday, there was already plenty of drama. Sofiane Boufal scored in the 83rd minute to earn Morocco a 1-0 win over Ghana in the first clash of big-name AFCON countries.
And Senegal scored a late, last-gasp 1-0 victory over Zimbabwe after Liverpool star Sadio Mane converted a 97th-minute penalty.
Cameroon is seeking to win its sixth continental title, which would still be one less than the record of seven crowns held by Egypt. Egypt does not come in as favourites. Bragging rights would have to go to defending champions Algeria and runner-up Senegal, with host Cameroon in contention. But Egypt, which reached the final in 2017 before bowing out in the round of 16 at home in 2019, should at least reach the round of 16 in Cameroon in a group that includes powerful Nigeria (which Egypt played against on Tuesday after Al-Ahram Weekly went to press), but lesser lights Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.
For the first time, all 52 matches will use Video Assistant Referee (VAR). CAF used VAR in 2019 but starting only from the quarter-finals.
Also for the first time, Salima Mukansanga is set to make history in Cameroon by becoming the first woman to referee at the men’s tournament.
The 33-year-old Rwandan made her officiating debut on Monday.
The judges’ list consists of 24 referees, 31 assistant referees and eight video assistant referees from 36 countries. The roster includes two referees from the CONCACAF as part of an inter-confederation skills exchange programme.
*A version of this article appears in print in the 13 January, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly.
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