As Equatorial Guinea prepares to host this year’s African Cup of Nations which kicks off on Saturday, questions are being asked on how prepared the country is.
Equatorial Guinea replaced Morocco, who had asked for the tournament to be postponed at the last minute over fears of the spread of the Ebola virus.
The Confederation of African Football – CAF – refused to change the dates, characterised Morocco’s concerns as alarmist and gambled on finding an alternative for the event which accounts for the vast majority of their income.
Having expelled Equatorial Guinea from the tournament’s preliminaries for using an ineligible player, CAF will now bend their rules to allow the home country to take part in the 16-team field.
Authorities maintain that Equatorial Guinea, with a population of an estimated 760 000 people and immense oil and natural gas wealth, is more than prepared to host one of Africa’s biggest sport tournament.
Equatorial Guinea’s deputy minister of sport, Manuel Sabino Asumu Cawan says: “ “There is a little bit of delay regarding some aspects of the stadiums. Stadiums of Ebebiyin and Mongomo are built at 80% and we would have been slower at finishing them if we didn’t have to think about the Cup. But since we have to get them ready for the Cup, construction work is being expedited so we think both Ebebiyin and Mongomo will be ready on time for the Cup’s date. Everything else is in optimal condition because Equatorial Guinea’s development is not limited to big cities like Malabo and Bata. Development is taking place in each and every district at the same time.”
Some fans, though, are still concerned about Ebola.
Equatorial Guinea has had no outbreaks of Ebola. And with limited facilities for tourists in the country, it is likely to attract just a handful of travelling fans, severely reducing any threat.
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