10 Jan 2022

Football is experiencing serious challenges, CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, has said.

Officially opening the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations, Cameroon 2021 on Sunday, Motsepe said the biggest challenge was the COVID-19 pandemic.

He thus urged Cameroon and CAF to implement strict COVID-19 protocols in line with global best practices, adding that the tournament was being played under a cloud of easily transmittable Omicron variant.

He said CAF was committed to ensuring the health and safety of players, supporters, match officials, spectators and guests.

Motsepe stated that they benchmarked from Europe and other football confederations before adopting some of their COVID-19 regulations and protocols.

He said all players, match officials and everyone, who will be at the stadia, were required to be vaccinated and produce negative COVID-19 test results.

“I asked the media to be our eyes and ears and let us know, throughout the Total Energies Africa Cup of Nations here in Cameroon, any deficiencies they pick up and areas where we can improve,” he said.

Furthermore, Motsepe said CAF was committed to cooperating and working with football clubs and other confederations in the world for the development and growth of football.

The CAF boss further said they had set themselves a high standard, as they wanted the tournament to be the best because the people of Africa deserve the best.

He said they also wanted the success of the competition to motivate and inspire all the people of Africa to believe in themselves, their ability to work together, succeed in building a bright future and to make Africa the best place to live.

Meanwhile, in the opening game, the hosts Cameroon came from behind to beat Burkina Faso 2-1.

The two goals were scored by captain Vincent Aboubakar, while Burkina Faso’s solo goal was netted by Gustavo Sangare.

In the second game, Cape Verde beat Ethiopia 1-0. ENDS