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AFCON: Low participation, high interest and COVID checks Football News

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Yaounde, Cameroon – Tamula Ernest, a three-year-old boy, left his job as a bricklayer for the Cameroon national football team, the “invincible lion” to follow in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

He is delighted that Cameroon has finally managed to organize the tournament, which was in doubt due to the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the fact that the home team managed to reach the playoffs.

“I’m glad this tournament is finally here,” Ernest told Al Jazeera, sitting on his motorcycle, which is painted the color of the Cameroonian flag, outside the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo.

“I follow the Lions every time they go to Olembe Stadium to train and go to matches.

“It’s my passion. I went to Equatorial Guinea on a motorbike [for the 2015 AFCON]. I did the same thing at Christmas [2017] and finally in Cameroon. I’m living the dream. ‘

At the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Cameroon, 13,000 people gathered for the match in Zimbabwe. [Daniel Ekonde/Al Jazeera]

But not everyone is as happy as Ernest.

Mamadou Sall, a 20-year-old man, is among hundreds of Guinean fans gathering outside the stadium in Yaounde to watch the final match of the teams against Zimbabwe in his country.

But its entry has been delayed because it has to pass the COVID-19 protocol.

“It’s a shame the game has already started and I’m still here,” Sal said. “I traveled from Duala [233km, 145 miles] Only for this game, and now I’m delaying due to COVID [protocol]”.

Protocols and tests related to COVID also meant that Zimbabwean Prosper Kadewere, who managed to get into the stadium, had to be encouraged without his family.

“I wanted to come with my family but the conditions [COVID rules] they were really tight. So I had to come alone, ”Kadewer said. “It’s the health crisis that’s affecting everyone, so we have to accept it.”

On that day, January 18, the 40,000-capacity stadium had only 13,000 fans.

The African Football Confederation (CAF) announced before the tournament that the participation of the hosts in the matches will not exceed 80 per cent, and that of the other teams will be 60 per cent, as fans must show a vaccination pass and a negative PCR test. to get the result into the stadium.

Cameroon AFCON fanzonaYaounde fan zone [Daniel Ekonde/Al Jazeera]

Meanwhile, outside the stadiums, fan zones are on the rise.

Jean Paul, 36, prefers to watch matches there on the outskirts of Yaounde than at home.

“Here, you need some money to drink, and you sit back and enjoy the match,” Paul said as he watched the Cameroon match against Cape Verde. “To get to the stadium, you need a match ticket [prices range from $5 to $34], vaccine card and negative PCR test. That’s too much for me. ‘

For Odette Abega, who approached the fan zone with her three children, the atmosphere inside the stadium and the atmosphere were similar.

“It simply came to our notice then. I laugh and enjoy the games here without anyone asking for a COVID test or vaccination card. We Cameroonians love football, and we have come up with a way to watch the matches outside the stadium. “

It is estimated that two per cent of Cameroon’s population is fully integrated, according to estimates and reports.

But Dr. Eric Tandi, of the Yaounde Public Health Emergency Operations Center, told Al Jazeera that “since the government launched its last vaccination campaign in December, the number of people coming for vaccinations has increased slightly.”

In an effort to increase attendance at the stadium, the government announced on January 15 that schools and public sector work would close at 2pm on match days.

Government officials also distributed free tickets and transportation to fans who wanted to attend the stadium matches.

While advertisements and banners continue to promote the tournament in the host towns, some Cameroonians are joining the mood and excitement by selling vuvuzelas.

“I sell more things on match days, especially when the lions are playing,” 22-year-old Pierre, who has distributed his products at a roundabout in Yaounde, told Al Jazeera. “This place was very noisy with vuvuzelas on the eve of the first match [Cameroon vs Burkina Faso]”.

Cameroon’s two wins and a Group A draw also gave the taxi driver Thierry Yaounde a lot of confidence.

“Who are the Comoros? [their opponents in the last-16] In front of the camera? ” he asks, tapping his chest. “Cameroon does not know football [he says ironically] but we play with our heart. That’s what you’ll see on Monday. ‘

Thierry’s opinion echoes the Cameroonian football writer Giovanni Wanneh, who believes that Central Africans are the only ones in the league.

“In all three games, Cameroon has shown that it can score goals despite chasing them,” Wanneh told Al Jazeera. “We haven’t seen a team like Nigeria come down from a goal in this tournament. I think the Lions have the mental strength and depth to win this tournament. ”

vuvuzelas are being sold in CameroonVuvuzelas are on sale at AFCON [Daniel Ekonde/Al Jazeera]

On the football field, Algeria were runners-up and Ghana four-time winners due to a series of blows.

Algeria were unbeaten and finished last in the group after losing 34 games.

Ghana, which last won the tournament in 1982, was eliminated by the Comoros debutants.

“AFCON 2021 has reminded us that African football has no respect for any pedigree,” African football expert Usher Komugisha told Al Jazeera. “It’s a tournament where players who work in the lower leagues in France face a star-studded Premier League team.”



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