Algeria Lobbying to Replace Cameroon as Nations Cup Hosts

Algeria are looking to replace Cameroon as the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts amid widespread reports that the Central African country will be stripped of the honor.

Cameroon, whose Indomitable Lions won the gong in the previous edition and are seeking to retain it come next year, have come under torrents of criticisms from Africa’s football governing body, CAF.

Cameroon drew the ire of the Confederation of African Football after numerous inspections found loopholes in the slated venues with only months away to the commencement of the tournament.

CAF’s frequent jibes at Cameroon were initially viewed as sort of a payback to former football boss Issa Hayatou by Ahmed Ahmed when the former took back the hosting rights of the then Orange U-17 championship from Madagascar citing inadequate preparations.

However, that posture has shifted a bit following the increment in the number of participating teams which Cameroon appears to be struggling to match up to.

In the heat of this, there have been some nations lobbying from behind the scenes to be granted the exclusive hosting rights should the continental soccer governing entity find Cameroon unfit as hosts.

A meeting was ongoing in Egypt to determine this as of yesterday.

Among those being touted as possible replacements is Algeria, who the press in Yaounde claim have gone ahead to launch a public campaign canvassing for votes.

But the North African nation must see off stiff competition from neighbors Morocco who are the given favorites in the event of any changes.

A random sampling of the press in the Cameroonian capital shows a general angry reaction to the news of Algeria’s latest move.