African football chief Patrice Motsepe confirmed yesterday that the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCon) will go ahead as planned in Cameroon next month despite the Omicron-variant led surge in Covid-19 cases. “I am going to watch, on the 9th of January, Cameroon and Burkina Faso (in the opening match),” Motsepe said, dispelling rumours that the already delayed continental showpiece could fall victim to the coronavirus pandemic.
South African mining tycoon Motsepe gave the green-light to the AfCon, originally due to be staged in 2019, after talks with Cameroon president Paul Biya. But the 59-year-old was quick to stress the dangers presented by the new variant responsible for record daily numbers of positive cases.
“Omicron is an enormous challenge,” Motsepe said, guaranteeing that nobody would be allowed to set foot in the stadiums without a negative PCR test. Motsepe was joined at the press briefing by the newly elected head of the Cameroon football federation, the country’s former football star Samuel Eto’o. “I will also be there when the trophy is handed over by Eto’o” after the competition’s final game on Feruary 6, Motsepe added.
Cameroon were originally due to stage the African football showcase in 2019 but fell behind with preparations and Egypt stepped in as late replacements. The 2021 tournament dates have changed twice, first because of fears that torrential seasonal rains could affect the tight schedule, and then because of the pandemic. Motsepe arrived in Yaounde on Monday with rumours suggesting he was in town to read the event’s last rites. His visit to Cameroon under three weeks from the opening match, followed last week’s threat from Europe’s top clubs not to release players due to concerns over the Covid-safety protocol.
Many of Africa’s leading players are based at clubs in Europe, including Liverpool duo Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City and Achraf Hakimi and Idrissa Gana Gueye of Paris Saint-Germain.
The European Club Association made its concerns known to FIFA. The ECA also raised concerns about the danger of players being unavailable for even longer periods due to the potential for travel restrictions or mandatory quarantine being introduced.
Keita named in Guinea squad
Guinea have included Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita in their extended 27-man squad for the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon next month as they became the first team to name their final selection.
Keita is likely to be the first of three players from the title-chasing Anfield club to be selected for the Jan 9-Feb 6 competition along with Egyptian forward Mo Salah and Senegal striker Sadio Mane.
Former Arsenal forward Kaba Diawara recently replaced Frenchman Didier Six as Guinea coach and has also selected the brother of Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba. Defender Florentin plays for Sochaux in the French second tier.
Keita is likely to come up against Mane, with Guinea drawn in Group B at the finals alongside Senegal, Zimbabwe and Malawi. They will be heavily fancied to make the second round.
Napoli’s Osimhen ‘available’ for Nigeria
Victor Osimhen said that he will be available to play for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations despite currently being out of action while recovering from a smashed cheekbone.
Napoli forward Osimhen looked certain to miss out on the continental tournament after initially being ruled out for three months following surgery on face fractures suffered against Inter Milan in late November. But the 22-year-old insisted he would be ready to travel to Cameroon with the Super Eagles.
“I will be available for AFCON unless if am not among the players picked to represent NIGERIA,” Osimhen said on Twitter.
Osimhen is currently training for Napoli while wearing a protective facemask and waiting for the go-ahead to recommence playing earlier than expected.
He suffered the fractures following a clash of heads with Inter defender Milan Skriniar, and had titanium implants placed in his cheekbone and eye socket.
Patrice Motsepe
