Cameroon’s attempts to win the African Nations Cup for a third successive time are in danger of being overshadowed by a host of problems for the continental showpiece event, which starts in Tunisia on January 24 and runs until February 14.
First and foremost will be the continuing lobbying for the host country for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, which has already been promised to Africa.
South Africa, denied by Germany by just one vote for the 2006 finals, are fighting Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya with the Moroccans being tipped to deliver another hammer blow to South Africa by a similarly narrow margin.
The Arab Football Confederation is understood to be keen on the North Africans uniting behind Morocco.
”It does not matter even if there were 10 countries. Our aim is to get 13 out of the 24 votes of the Fifa executive committee members,” said Danny Jordaan, the chief executive of the South African bid, as he prepares to lobby hard in Tunisia ahead of the vote in May.
Also facing a tough time is African Football Confederation chief Issa Hayatou, who faces a battle for re-election against Ismael Bhamjee.
He is expected to squeeze through but faces a barrage of questioning over the scheduling of the biennial event, which has led to some players preferring to stay in Europe and honour their club obligations rather than miss out on six weeks of lucrative bonuses.
World soccer chief Sepp Blatter found himself at the centre of the controversy when he hit out at leading English clubs over their attempts to prevent players turning out for their countries.
Tottenham fought a long, fruitless campaign to try to persuade Freddie Kanoute, born in France of Mali parents, from playing in Tunisia.
Kanoute and Leeds United’s Senegalese star Lamine Sakho have both played for the France under-21 side but under new Fifa rules they can switch allegiance as they have dual nationality and have not played for the France senior team.
”Given the expanding role of African players in English football, it is high time managers and coaches, shareholders and owners understood that the Premier League is only one string in their players’ bows,” said Blatter.
Both Bolton and Arsenal also found themselves dragged into the argument as they tried to delay the departures of Nigerian players Jay-Jay Okocha and Kanu respectively.
Elsewhere, it’s not just the players who have been causing palpitations.
South Africa suspended national coach Ephraim ”Shakes” Mashaba less than three weeks before their opening match against Benin and replaced him with April ”Styles” Phumo.
On the field, the 16 nations find themselves with the duty of restoring the reputation of a tournament that has served up insipid finals in the last two editions.
The Indomitable Lions will start among the favourites and will be the neutral fan’s emotional choice to win after the death of Marc-Vivien Foe in the Confederations Cup last summer.
A disappointing performance at the last World Cup by Cameroon was matched by Tunisia, Nigeria and South Africa, who all failed to get past the first stage in South Korea and Japan.
That left the road open for Senegal to capture everyone’s admiration with their magical journey to the quarterfinals based on their historic defeat of holders France.
They too will be one of the favourites in Tunisia.
In Group A, Tunisia face debutants Rwanda, as well as Guinea Conakry and the Democratic Republic of Congo with coach Roger Lemerre looking to bounce back from his disastrous tenure as French boss at the last World Cup.
Senegal, with the silky skills of El-Hadji Diouf playing a major role, are top seeds in Group B with Mali, Burkina Faso and Kenya forming the opposition.
”This is not an easy group,” said Senegal coach Guy Stephan. ”Both Mali and Burkina Faso have been to the semifinals.”
Cameroon should progress from Group C where Egypt, Algeria and Zimbabwe, also debutants, make up the four.
”The opening game against Algeria will not be easy but we are the champions and we will work very hard,” said Cameroon coach Winfried Schafer.
Nigeria, winners in 1994, are Group D favourites and face newcomers Benin as well as South Africa and Morocco, and the Super Eagles have promised their players $46 000 dollars each if they win the tournament.
However, they will have to do it without 19-year-old striker Obafemi Martins who, in an increasingly depressing feature of the build-up, has opted to skip the event to concentrate on his career with Inter Milan. — Sapa-AFP