2020 CHAN, 2021 AFCON: PM States Cameroon’s Determination

Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute on June 14, 2019 at the National Assembly confirmed Cameroon’s readiness and determination to host the African Nations Football Championship called CHAN TOTAL 2020 and the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) dubbed TOTAL 2021. The Head of Government gave the assurance to Members of Parliament as he answered a question from Hon. Nzognuo Fotsa Ngong of the Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) party during a question and answer plenary sitting chaired by the House Speaker, Hon. Cavaye Yeguié Djibril in the presence of the Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, Bolvine Wakata.

The MP questioned the government on the measures taken to ensure Cameroon successfully hosts the tournaments and equally demanded a balance sheet on the state of realisation of projects which were to be completed on March 31, 2019 in relation to AFCON 2019 which Cameroon unfortunately will no longer host due to a shift in date by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) authorities. In his response, the PM said the question acts as a wakeup call to vigilance and the commitment taken by the country. “Indeed, Hon. Nzognuo question is a wakeup call for vigilance and to honour the commitments taken by our country. As you are all aware, the Head of State took a solemn commitment to organise the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) which holds the rights for the organisation of AFCON decided to shift the date of this event.

Accordingly, AFCON will now be held in Cameroon in 2021. Since then, the CAF authorities have constantly confirmed this shift of date and on several occasions there have applauded the efforts and sacrifices our country has made towards organising this continental football festival,” the PM stated. Infrastructure As concerns infrastructures and other projects earmarked to host the competition, the PM said some are in progress with several others being completed and already in use. “The debate as to whether our country is able to organise the CHAN and the AFCON should in my humble opinion be now laid to rest. As concerns operational monitoring, a consultative framework exists bringing together contractors and other stakeholders responsible for the execution of targeted projects….

With the CHAN 2020 and AFCON 2021 organising bodies in place, final infrastructural adjustments are in progress. Several infrastructures are also in use on the different competition sites,” Prime Minister Joseph Dion Ngute clarified. He further justified his response by saying the championships will leave behind a tremendous legacy for Cameroon. “It is worth noting that the CHAN and AFCON will leave behind a tremendous legacy including ultra-modern sports complexes and stadium, newly constructed access roads, newly constructed or rehabilitated hotels, renovated airports, all of which have built in state-of-the-art security systems,” he stated. Tournaments Management Committee To buttress his point on the determination and preparedness of Cameroon to host both football jamboree, the Prime Minister cited the June 4, 2019 presidential decree creating a committee in charge of the effective organisation of the African Nations Football Championship in 2020 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021 abbreviated COCAN 20-21. “Last June 4, the President of the Republic signed a decree on the establishment, organisation and functioning of the Local Organising Committee of the Afri...