The continent’s biggest football event is finally here, despite having faced a call for postponement, the original hosts’ withdrawal and a continental health scare
Bring out the drums, the cymbals, the horns and don’t forget the vuvuzelas, the 30th Africa Cup of Nations kicks off this evening in Bata, Equatorial Guinea.
Despite the odds that were stacked against the tournament, it is to the credit of Caf and the government of Teodoro Obiang that one is able to enjoy the biannual spectacle that has come to define Africa’s love for the game.
Morocco had asked for postponement of the competition in November due to the Ebola Virus Disease outbreak that has claimed more than 8500 lives till date in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea as well as three other countries.
Media coverage of the spread of the virus had scared the Moroccan authorities into calling for a rescheduling but when Caf did not change its decision, the Atlas Lions and their fans had to give up the right to host the tournament.
Morocco’s loss is Equatorial Guinea’s gain as the Nzalang Nacional (who had previously been disqualified for fielding an ineligible player) now join illustrious sides like Algeria, Cameroon, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana to contest for the most coveted title in African football.
Yet, the fear of Ebola spreading is a clear and present danger that organizers must not overlook.
A few days ago, Caf media director Junior Binyam dispelled fears of the disease hampering the tourney.
“I don’t have any fear about Ebola outbreak disturbing the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said. “Just for you to know, we have gone through qualifiers since the month of April and we have not had any single case of Ebola related to a football game even when it comes to local football played in the host countries.”
Still, some cautionary measures need to be undertaken to ensure the tournament is free of rancour even as the Syli Stars of Guinea are the only participating team from a country suffering from the outbreak.
Community health consultant Dr Yetunde Tagurum, of the University of Jos, expects Caf to liaise with local health experts and WHO country representatives to spread information about the disease as well as train health workers on handling issues that might crop up.
“Ebola virus is not transmitted unless there is someone that is walking around with high fever,” Tagurum told Goal. “Once you can screen the visitors coming in, it would go a long way in preventing the transmission.”
In letters of accreditation to traveling journalists, Caf stated: “You must be sure that you have been examined and are in good health (general good state, no fever, no asthenia, no headache, no sore throat, no vomiting, no diarrhea, no skin rash, in brief no presumptive signs of Ebola.”
And on arrival at airports in the country, Caf expects that “each person must respect and undergo the rules and regulations of the Rapid Response Medical team for Screening (Temperature check). People coming from affected countries will have their details taken and monitored for twenty-one (21) days Still, the health fears must not be allowed to overshadow the spectacle and colour that the Afcon packs with it.
Viva Africa! | The spirit of the fans will not be dampened by fear
More than 10,000 fans regularly show up at tournaments like this but an expensive country with limited hotel accommodation like Equatorial Guinea with its visa restrictions might prove to be an exception.
The last Afcon in South Africa proved to be a big hit with visitors who not only went to enjoy the football but also the enormous tourism opportunities afforded by the Rainbow country.
While Equatorial Guinea’s volcanic islands present a veritable landscape for sightseeing, prohibitive costs and corruption among security forces as well as a population that enjoys little of the country’s enormous oil wealth are a few negatives.
President Obiang has already bought 40,000 match tickets for his countrymen so that they are able to attend the games while closing time for civil servants has also been brought forward by two hours on match days.
The cities of Malabo, Bata, Ebebiyin and Mongomo would play host to the participating teams where a new winner is expected to emerge following Nigeria’s inability to qualify and defend their title.
With Egypt also missing out, Algeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Cameroon have once again emerged as usual favourites.
However, they would be keenly challenged by 2012 winners Zambia, South Africa, Cape Verde and Mali while the hosts are not expected to offer much even though they reached the quarter finals when they co-hosted with Gabon.
While the rest of the world watches the proceedings in the tiny central African country, one hopes that only events on the field make newspaper headlines.
No comments:
Post a Comment