Hayatou fires back at Ahmad over Cameroon’s readiness

Former President of Confederation of African Football (CAF), IssaHayatou has hit out at comments made by his successor, Ahmad Ahmad, about Cameroon’s readiness to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

                Ahmad, who replaced Hayatou as CAF President in March, had said that Cameroon ‘will have to work to convince CAF of its ability to host.’

                Hayatou, a Cameroonian himself, said Ahmad should have made his comments after a CAF inspection visit later this month.

                “The unpreparedness of Cameroon cannot be judged two years before the competition,”

                “There is an undertone when the CAF President talks about an independent evaluation team. This is worrying,” Hayatou told a Cameroonian radio station

                Madagascar’s Ahmad has said that the inspection visit from 20-28 August will not be carried out by CAF Executive Committee Officials, as has happened in the past, but outside experts.

                Like Hayatou, Cameroon’s Football Federation Fecafoot is also concerned by Ahmad’s comments – noting them ‘with profound disquiet.’

                “One may question the rationale of this inspection visit as the outcome seems to have already been decided at the highest level of CAF,” said Fecafoot President, Tombi A RokoSidiki.

                “In the light of the statement by the CAF President, it is difficult not to pay attention to persistent rumours of a conspiracy intended to withdraw the 2019 Nations Cup hosting from Cameroon to another country,” Tombi stated.