Hosts Cameroon play Zimbabwe in the opening game of the African Nations Championship. The draw was done last Monday at the Yaounde Multipurpose Sports Complex in the presence of CAF president Ahmad Ahmad with his executive members and Representative of the Head of State, Prime Minister Head of Government, Joseph Dion Ngute.
Before the main subject matter which was the draw, the public that came out in its numbers, enjoyed a performance of Cameroon’s best artists of the moment. The likes of Locko, Magasco, X-Maleya, Ben Decca, Takam 2 and a display of four cultural zones of Cameroon that is the grassfield, sudano-sahelian, sawa and fang-beti whet the appetite of the 15 country delegations of countries qualified for CHAN.
The entrance of the PM Head of Government and CAF boss set the ball rolling. The flags of the 16 participating countries of the CHAN marched past to the stage. Next was a speech by the Minister of Sports and Physical Education and COCAN president Mouelle Kombi. He welcomed the CAF officials and reiterated Cameroon’s readiness to host the Football bonanza come April, 2020.
Former Indomitable Lions captain Stephen TATAW brought the CHAN trophy into the hall. Then he was joined on the stage by a member of the winning teams of the 2000 and 2002 AFCON Salomon Olembe. The two former Indomitable Lions assisted CAF Director of Competitions Samson Adamu to conduct the draw.
The cream of Cameroonian footballers was seated at the tribune close to the stage and during the draw before the draw, Salomon Olembe took out time to appreciate their presence.
Chan Village
At the main entrance of the Multipurpose Sports Complex, a “CHAN village” was specially created to entertain the guests that came for the event.
Stands adorned with thatches and wood in the courtyard displayed the rich cultural heritage of the Cameroon. Also on display was Cameroon’s mouth-watering cuisine. Traditional dance groups of the four cultural zones of Cameroon. Pictures of great moments in Cameroonian football history were also for the attention of visitors.
Before the CHAN draw, the CHAN trophy had toured several quarters of the capital city usually to the high acclaim of the population.
The African Nations Championship will be held in Cameroon for the first time ever from April 4-25. The cities of Douala, Limbe and the capital Yaounde will host the matches in the three week jamboree.
Jonathan MBIAOH
