3 - 9 January 2002
Issue No.567
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 3 - 9 January 2002 Issue No.567 |
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A ruling which could hurt
Egypt is questioning a decision that may dent its chances of hosting the 2006 African Cup of Nations. Alaa Shahine examines ramifications
The Egyptian Football Association (EFA) is to appeal a decision that may seriously harm its chances of hosting Africa's premier football tournament.
In a move that has mired the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its Cameroon president Eissa Hayatou in controversy, countries now have until 31 March to submit their bids to host the 2006 African Nations Cup (ANC). The original deadline was November.
The continental body justified its decision by saying it was meant to give bidding countries Egypt, Algeria, Gabon and South Africa a chance to complete their presentations. But speculation is rife that the decision was tailored to suit one specific country: Morocco. The Moroccans, despite long-declared intentions to stage the 2006 finals, mysteriously failed to meet the November deadline. After missing the boat, the Moroccan Football Federation found itself under intense pressure from fans and media to send in a bid -- albeit a late one.
Observers also say the CAF's decision may also have been designed to give Gabon, a country which has never staged the African football showpiece, a second chance. "According to the regulations, the right to host the championship shall go to a country that has never staged the event if all the bids are equally good," Hisham Azmi, EFA board member, said. "But with governmental backing absent in Gabon, along with a weak infrastructure and sports facilities, the country seemed to be clearly out of the race until it was rescued by the decision."
Azmi also turned to the rule book to back his claim, saying the decision did not square with CAF's regulations. According to Article 23 of CAF rules governing the organisation of the African Cup, a decision to extend the deadline after bids have been submitted shall be taken "if no country is able to meet the deadline or if the bids are not in accordance with CAF's stipulations." This is not, Azmi said, the case in the current situation.
"We have to find ways of appealing the decision," Azmi told Al-Ahram Weekly. Minister of Youth Aliyiddin Hilal, who has the government's blessing to host the cup, will meet high-ranking CAF officials to explain Egypt's position. "We have good ties with the CAF and hope that we can reverse the decision," Azmi, who is also a member of FIFA's panel for special duties, added.
Another major reason for the scramble to hold the 2006 Nations Cup is related to the World Cup. The CAF has decided to use it as a platform for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The five best teams in the ANC will automatically go to Germany, thus doing away with the usual World Cup qualifiers. Naturally, whoever hosts the ANC in a World Cup year will have already taken a big step to the World Cup.
Azmi said Egypt had the best chance to hold the event. One reason is that the last time it organised the ANC was back in 1986 while all the other bidders, save Gabon, hosted later years.
Added Azmi, "The CAF requires four cities to stage the tournament. We have eight cities planned with as many stadiums, plus 43 training grounds, 23 hospitals and 58 hotels." The cities are Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, Ismailia, Port Said, Mansoura, Suez and Aswan.
Egypt's main venue, Cairo Stadium, has a capacity of 65,000 seats, while the other seven stadiums can hold from 17,000 to 40,000 spectators
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