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‘Decision to strip Cameroon of AFCON hosting rights unfair’

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AFCON trophy

The government of Cameroon has reacted to the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to withdraw the country from hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The continental football body stripped the Central African country of the right to host the tournament at an Extraordinary Executive Committee meeting in Accra, Ghana last Friday.

The committee cited security and a general slow pace of work as reasons for its decision, but the Cameroonian government says the withdrawal is “unfair” and a “blatant injustice.”

“In the face of this blatant injustice, the government of the Republic urges the people of Cameroon to remain calm and not to indulge to futile arguments,” Cameroon’s Minister of Communication, Issa Tchiroma Bakary told BBC Sport.

Read Also: Sierra Leone disqualified from 2019 Nations Cup

“Cameroon has put in a creditable performance. It shall prove it to the entire world by completing with this same determination and on time the construction of this modern infrastructure belonging to the Cameroonian people.

“This surprising decision for more than one reason is certainly unfair with regard to the huge investment made by our country which has led to outstanding, modern infrastructure as witnessed by all,” Mr Bakary added.

For many, CAF’s decision did not have come as a surprise, as the Cameroon’s hosting of the showpiece had been in jeopardy since the decision to increase the tournament from 16 to 24 teams.

Reeling out the decision on Friday, CAF added that countries that are interested in hosting the competition have until the end of December to make their interests known, and thereafter a decision will be made.

It also mentioned that “Cameroon remains a serious candidate to organise a future edition.”

 

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