CAMEROON President Paul Biya and Confederation of African Football boss Patrice Motsepe held a meeting in Yaounde on Tuesday to discuss the final touches to the preparations for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
CAF said on Wednesday that the meeting was ‘constructive and fruitful’ as the countdown to Africa’s major football competition continues.
The 2021 AFCON, postponed by a year due to Covid-19, will be held in Cameroon from 9 January to 6 February, 2022.
“During the meeting, Dr Motsepe emphasized the importance of the collaboration between the Government of Cameroon, CAF and other stakeholders in implementing Covid-19 global best practices at all the stadiums, training pitches, hotels and all the areas where the players, match officials, spectators and visitors will be during the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021,” CAF said in a press release.
“This is particularly important in light of the Omicron variant.
“Good progress has been made over the past few months in Cameroon with the construction of stadium infrastructure, training pitches and other facilities for the hosting of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.”
CAF and the government of Cameroon reached an agreement concerning the measures to contain the spread of the virus.
Some of the measures include the requirement that fans will only be allowed into the match venues if they are fully vaccinated and are able to show a negative PCR test result that is no older than 72 hours or a negative antigen test result no older than 24 hours.
CAF added that the competent health authorities will take all necessary action to facilitate vaccination and the performance of screening tests at all competition sites in Cameroon.
Also, to ensure fairness and neutrality, CAF says it will use a globally respected and independent testing organisation, UNILAB, to test the national team players and their delegations.
“CAF is proceeding together with its partners and other stakeholders in the preparations of a successful hosting of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021 starting on 09 January 2022,” the continental body assures.
