The Organizational skills of Cameroonian authorities and the legendary hospitality of Cameroonians raised the bar.
If the Indomitable Lions lifted the trophy, it would have been the icing on the cake. The tournament was a massive success on several organizational fronts. However, the death of eight and wounding of 38 more in a stampede outside the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde on January 24 inked an indelible mark on Afcon 2021.
Despite the incident, Cameroonian authorities say it was a success on and off the pitch. 50 years after hosting the tournament in 1972, when most of our country’s 27 million were not born was so important to the youthful population of Cameroon who cannot recollect an image of what happened half century ago. President Biya who took up the challenge to organise the biggest African football festival in Cameroon has succeeded to give his young compatriots joy and pride.
In 1972 when Cameroon hosted and lost at the semi-finals, only eight teams participated. This time 24 teams came to Cameroon and the competition played out in six towns including Buea and Limbe in the South West region where armed groups operating in the area vowed to disrupt the football showpiece. It did not happen. The Cameroon military prevented such scenes.
Thousands in this region thronged the Limbe stadium where matches were played despite the warning from armed groups banning the watching of games and attendance in the stadium. Cameroon did not play in Limbe but matches played by other teams of the tournament had spectators. Unlike previous host where locals went to the stadium only to watch their national team. Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua and the capital city Yaounde turned out massively in Staduims. Egypt, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Gambia openly confessed the support Cameroonians gave them in stadiums.
Even in the context of COVID-19, Cameroon succeeded to get more fans in the stadium to watches matches of other teams, than any host in recent decades. Cameroon has set an example for other host to follow, starting with the next host Côte d’Ivoire in 2023.
Cemented unity
Sports remains a unifier. And in Cameroon football which is considered the ‘king sport’ has continued to build national unity. Despite the differences in political views – sometimes characterized by hate speech and violence, the ongoing crisis in the two English-speaking regions, the pursuit of Boko Haram to make incursions in the North, and the daily challenges, Cameroonians came together and supported the Indomitable Lions. Lions’ victories, difficulties and slips gave Cameroonians a common topic for conversation.
No human endeavour is perfect. But Cameroon did its best which was good enough. Although Afcon is over, infrastructure built because of the tournament will stay and revenue reaped from the jamboree will grow businesses.
Jude VIBAN
