Hosts Equatorial Guinea saved Africa Cup of Nations
Africa Cup of Nations organisers have told Sky Sports News HQ's Geraint Hughesthat they would have cancelled this year's tournament if Equatorial Guinea had not stepped in at the last moment to host it.
Just 50 days ago original hosts Morocco asked to postpone the tournament due to fears that the deadly Ebola virus could be spread to the country.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) could not postpone it due to clashes with the international football calendar so they removed Morocco as hosts and expelled them from the 2015 tournament.
That was if a 2015 tournament would take place. CAF General Secretary Hicham El Amrani told me they would have had no choice but to pull the plug, that was until Equatorial Guinea offered assistance.
Equatorial Guinea is one of Africa's smallest nations with challenging logistical problems, none least that they had only two stadiums up to standard six weeks ago. In the capital Malabo, which is in on an island, and in Bata on the mainland, stadiums of international standard existed as they co-hosted the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations with Gabon.
However, in Mongomo and Ebebiyin, the stadiums lacked seating, floodlights and a suitable pitch. CAF and the government of Equatorial Guinea have imported two pitches, and El Amrani says it is remarkable this has been achieved. He added that the pitches were of good quality, had been laid well, but were young and would have to be managed.
Manchester City though should be relieved as Yaya Toure and Wilfried Bony, both part of the Ivory Coast squad, play in Malabo where the facilities are pretty good.
I had a good look around that stadium and although it only holds 16,000 it's a good facility. The grass was well grown on the pitch, it was flat with a good sandy base that will take a moulded stud with ease.
Logistically getting around Equatorial Guinea is difficult as one part is an island to the north west of the mainland. As a result Hicham El Amrani was not expecting huge amounts of travelling supporters, but this is potentially a good thing as controlling the spread of Ebola from west Africa to central Africa is key.
Equatorial Guinea has had no cases of the virus and is heavily monitoring foreigners and citizens who travel abroad.
When I landed it took a few hours to get through immigration as medical staff with heat sensors took temperature readings, collected health information and gave out hand sanitisers.
Along with that, all visitors must have in their possession a yellow fever certificate. If you don't you may well be turned around and put back on a flight out of the country. Add to that Cuban doctors being flown in, extra ambulances, plenty of signs warning about Ebola, and you get the picture.
Hicham El Amrani admitted the tournament would not be perfect, but in the timescale they had to organise it, he could not see it being done better.
And for Equatorial Guinea, they host an Africa Cup of Nations for the second time and play in tournament that they had originally been disqualified from for playing an ineligible player in the qualifying campaign!
Source: Skysports.com
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9 years ago
And for Equatorial Guinea, they host an Africa Cup of Nations for the second time and play in tournament that they had originally been disqualified from for playing an ineligible player in the qualifying campaign! The stone the builders rejected has become the corner stone
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