Defender Emery Bayisenge celebrates after scoring Rwanda’s winner against Ivory Coast in the opening game of the ongoing Chan Championship on January 16. Rwanda have performed brilliantly as hosts of the continental tournament. AGENCIES PHOTO
Kigali- Africa soccer governing body, Caf, believe Rwanda now have the ability to host the Nations Cup.
The East African country has already hosted the 2009 African Youth and 2011 African U-17 Championships successfully.
Rwanda are now halfway into this year’s Chan as hosts and the reviews have been glowing, to say the least.
No wonder Caf see no reason why Rwanda cannot bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations; the 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023 having already gone to Gabon, Cameroon, Ivory Coast and Guinea respectively.
“The job description for hosting Afcon is that you must have good infrastructure like good roads,” said Almany Kabele Camara, “Top medical facilities, telecommunications and internet throughout the country to allow journalists send through their work easily.”
The Caf first vice-president and Chan 2016 head of Caf Organising Committee, Camara – who was in the company of Rwandan FA boss Vincent Nzamwita -, was reviewing Rwanda’s performance as hosts so far at Kigali Serena on Friday.
“You have got to have at least four stadiums, eight training top class pitches, good hotels,” he added, “And Rwanda has demonstrated that they have all that. They have also attracted huge crowds and that is what we want; African youth to be attracted to football.”
Rwanda refurbished all four stadia including Amahoro, Nyamirambo, Huye and Rubavu to required standards while roads are almost flawless.
“The job description of Chan is therefore not different from hosting Afcon. Sixteen teams are here, just like it is at Afcon and we have had good competition with no team being eliminated with zero points.
“Everybody, from the teams, Caf and fans is satisfied with the local organizing committee and I applaud the enthusiasm and dedication from Rwanda and H.E the President (Paul Kagame). “Now it is up to Rwanda to make the application regarding hosting Afcon because according to me, all the criteria have so far been met.”
There was, however, one incident where power went off at Huye, forcing the match between Cameroon and Ethiopia into a 12-minute lull.
“That was the only single incident,” said Camara, “But listen, Rwandan authorities did enough, there were new generators at all four stadia and more than enough fuel.
“But human negligence, where the person in charge of fuelling the generator felt it was full yet it was not.” The next Chan is in Kenya in 2018. Kenya didn’t qualifying for this year’s edition.
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