CAF Inspection Mission Ends Visit to Cameroon

By Boris Esono in Limbe

Ismail Walle, CAF Director of Football bids farewell to Cameroon as Governor Okalia Bilai looks on

The facts finding mission of the Confederation of African Football, CAF to Cameroon has wrapped up almost a week visit to various infrastructures to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON in Cameroon.

                The visit led by CAF Director of competitions, Ismail Walle featured members of the Rolland Berger Company and a delegation from CAF. The over 5-day visit from the delegation took them to all the regions to host matches. From Yaoundé-Garoua-Baffoussam-Douala-Buea/Limbe and back to the CAF Excellence Centre in Mbankomo, Yaoundé to conclude their inspection tour.

                The delegation that arrived Buea last Wednesday January 17 first had a stop at the SW Governor’s office where they had a working session. The delegation then went to the various sites to play host to matches in the region. About 6 stadia and some hotel facilities were x-rayed by the CAF inspection team.

                In Buea, the Molyko stadium, Buea Town stadium were inspected with samples of the grass, soils, playing surface, changing rooms, electricity and water supply systems, security and communication systems.

                From Buea the two teams of delegates, one tasked with looking at stadia and the other with Hotel facilities, went to the sea side town of Limbe with the site committee chair, Governor OkaliaBilai to also ascertain the readiness of the town. All the structures were also given thorough inspection by the teams. The LimbeOmnisport stadium and its Annex, Centenary and Middle Farms where all inspected with hotels such as Seme, Fini, SayoyPalmz also x-rayed.

                According to the Director of the LimbeOmnisportstdium, Ekombe nee WankiPascaline, the stadium is all but ready to host matches for the 2019 AFCON.

                “The Limbe stadium is one of the structures put in place during the 2016 Female AFCON and one of the stadiums to feature matches during the 2019 edition”. “We are privilege to have hosted the 2016 female edition. Now we are preparing and trying to perfect everything to have a better hosting of the 2019 AFCON. The stadium is ready for full use”. 

                The LimbeOmnisport stadium has an ultramodern sound system for communication and four lighting towers to permit matches at night. The roofing of the West Wing Tribune has just been completed. She added that “there is a wireless internet service and a standby generator in case of a blackout. There are the VIP lounges which are compulsory in any modern stadium for reception of the VIP before and after matches. In the main block, there are offices for all CAF officials like match delegates, commissioners, ball pickers and others”.

                No public declaration was made by the delegation on Cameroon’s readiness to host the football jamboree. It is important to note that this is the first visit of the CAF inspection team to the country with a host of other visit expected in the months ahead before the final report from CAF president Ahmad Ahmad is made.