Cameroon’s Revered Hospitality On Offer

For three weeks running, Cameroon will be the centre of African football. A veritable moment to showcase the country’s legendary hospitality to delegations from the 16 countries that will be vying for a place in the sun when the sixth edition of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) rumbles off in Yaounde tomorrow January 16, 2021. 
Sports in general and football in particular is widely known for its unifying ability. Cameroon, Africa in miniature, and one of the continent’s football powerhouses, is fully ready to give fellow Africans the beauty of the competition in all its facets. The commitment of the entire country, bolstered from the highest office of the land, will be seen not only in the state-of-the-art infrastructure put in place to spice the bonanza but as well through the reception being served the delegations ever since they started jetting into the country. 
Yaounde and Limbe with one pool each and Douala with two are already vibrating to the rhythm of the game. Nothing has been left to chance to ensure that all the visitors feel at home even far from home either in their respective hotels, training grounds and competitions’ arena. In effect, from January 16 to February 7, 2021, duration of the 16-nation tournament, Cameroon will serve as the headquarters of African football.  Even before the kick off of the competition billed for tomorrow Saturday January 16, 2021 at the Yaounde Omnisport stadium, officials of the Confederation of African Football will meet in Yaounde this Friday to discuss their business. A conclave which would also see the coronation of Cameroon-born former President of CAF, Issa Hayatou, as the Honorary President of the federation he oversaw for decades.  Doing so in his own home country adds grandeur to the competition. 
According to a government’s press release issued by Communication Minister, “arrangements have been made, on the instructions of the Head of State, for the success of this great jamboree of African football on all the selected sites: Yaounde, Douala and Limbe.” Fresh stadiums and training grounds have been constructed and others rehabilitated to ensure that home-based players in Africa show the world the rich reservoir of football talents. 
Being practically one of the first competitions after last year’s lockdown imposed by the dreaded but still raging Covid-19 pandemic, Cameroon has put in place all that is necessary to guarantee the health safety of the athletes and other members of their delegations. From the airports to their hotels and to the stadiums, every detail has been worked out to ensure a hitch-free competition. For instance, stepping up the number of players per team (from 23 to 33) ...