Time for Cameroon to silence the cynics

HANNIBAL MEJBRI JOE ARIBO Hosts ready to drown out moaning PL clubs SEBASTIEN HALLER

AFTER TWO false starts and attempts from its detractors to seemingly instigate a third, the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations is finally here. With it comes opportunity.

For Cameroon who have their moment in the spotlight as host nation for the first time since 1972, welcoming and showcasing Africa’s finest talents. And for this football-loving country to prove that they can safely stage a major tournament that has twice been moved due to Covid.

There is disgruntlement, anger even, in Africa about the tone of some of the pre-tournament moans in Europe and particularly from some in the English Premier League about releasing players. ‘Why the hypocrisy towards Africa?’ one senior CAF official said. ‘It irritates me.’

The tournament is being staged in its familiar mid-season slot, so it is hardly a surprise to clubs, but Covid has given them an extra reason to complain. The European Club Association even expressed its ‘deep concerns’ to FIFA regarding player welfare last year following the emergence of the Omicron variant.

Then there are security issues. Of the six host cities, only the coastal city Limbe — which will stage eight matches — is in the troubled south-west region and considered a potential concern.

The surrounding, rural areas of Limbe, in the English-speaking part of Cameroon, have been the scene of armed attacks since 2017 due to a domestic dispute involving Anglophone separatists clashing with government forces. Armoured vehicles are a common sight in Limbe’s remote areas.

In the capital Yaounde, locals have noted the increased levels of security, with more police on patrol. But that is to be expected for a tournament of this profile and will be ramped up further.

In Cameroon, they have been living in this climate for years, which perhaps explains why there is calm in the country.

Last year’s African Nations Championship, which included games in Limbe, passed without trouble, increasing confidence of an incident-free tournament.

Intense scrutiny this year has only sharpened the minds of those responsible for guaranteeing everyone’s safety, especially with the horror of the terrorist attack on the Togo team bus ahead of the 2010 tournament in Angola fresh in minds.

Football has the potential to provide Cameroon with a lift, even temporarily, as it did in 2017 when they won their last Africa Cup of Nations and sparked wild scenes of celebration.

Covid has impacted a number of the competing nations, including favourites Senegal and Gabon, while attendances at Cameroon’s matches will be capped at 80 per cent and 60 per cent at other games.

Home advantage has increased expectation on five-time winners Cameroon — who face Burkina Faso in the opening match in Olembe tomorrow — to reach the final. Coach Toni Conceicao said: ‘People here don’t forgive failure.’

With captain Mohamed Salah, Egypt are under pressure to extend their record as AFCON’s most successful side and triumph an eighth time. But Sadio Mane and Edouard Mendy’s Senegal are favourites to win it for the first time along with holders Algeria, captained by Manchester City’s Riyad Mahrez and fancied again on the back of a world record 39-game unbeaten run.

Ivory Coast’s attacking threat of Sebastien Haller, Wilfried Zaha and Nicolas Pepe makes them outside contenders.

Scotland will be represented by three SPFL-based players — Rangers’ Nigerian star Joe Aribo, Hamilton’s Zimbabwean striker David Moyo and Alloa defender Fernandy Mendy, who has been called up for Guinea-Bissau.