“The attention of the world is focused on Ivory Coast as they host the Afcon event, marking a significant global occasion.”

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The country of Ivory Coast is preparing for its second Africa Cup of Nations, but it has been 40 years since the first one, so most of the country’s population of over 29 million have not witnessed the tournament. However, Michel Brizoua-Bi, a lawyer and former high-ranking member of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), is one of the few who have.

In March 1984, Brizoua-Bi, along with a crowd of 50,000 at Félix-Houphouët-Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, saw the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, led by Théophile Abega and motivated by Roger Milla, claim their first of five Afcon titles. They defeated Nigeria (known as the Green Eagles at the time) 3-1 in the finals.

Jean, the father of the author, served as the president of Fif, the Ivorian Football Federation, from 1980 to 1988 and played a crucial role in its management.

“In 1984, hosting the African Cup of Nations was an integral part of Côte d’Ivoire’s identity. At the time, I was finishing secondary school and preparing to attend university. Only a few teams had players who were based in Europe,” recalls Brizoua-Bi. “Most teams were composed of players who had honed their skills within Africa. The tournament truly represented Africa at the time, but it has since become a global event.”

In 1984, the Afcon tournament had a smaller impact with only eight teams and two centers in Abidjan and Bouaké. In comparison, the current tournament has 24 teams, six centers, and lasts for a month, costing the Ivorian government over $1 billion. The tournament begins at 8pm on Saturday with the host country facing Guinea-Bissau.

There has been some controversy surrounding the preparations for the tournament. In October, Alassane Ouattara, the president of the country, dismissed the prime minister, Patrick Achi. This was due to concerns about the inadequate pitch and infrastructure at the main stadium in Ebimpé, where the opening and final matches will take place. Despite spending $257 million on its construction, additional work was needed to meet tournament standards.

Brizoua-Bi states that they are preparing for a large event that will have an impact on the entire country. They are aware of the anticipation, stress, and excitement of being recognized on a global scale.

Achieving success in the Afcon can be measured in different ways. The initial step is to demonstrate that Africa is a strong contender in the international football arena, following Morocco’s impressive performance in the recent World Cup. As for Côte d’Ivoire, even if we do not win the trophy, it should serve as a launching point for building a formidable team for the future.

The drumbeat at the Félix-Houphouët-Boigny airport, welcoming arriving players, fans and officials, played by a talented cultural ensemble, sets the colourful ambience for the start of Africa’s top football event.

Nigeria’s Jay-Jay Okocha, a highly skilled midfielder who led his team to victory in the Afcon tournament of 1994 and also reached the final in 2000, has been named one of Caf’s four new ambassadors. His role includes promoting Caf and African football, as well as participating in various activities such as tournaments, charity initiatives, and commercial and social events.

I am excited for what I believe will be one of the most competitive tournaments in recent memory, says Okocha. He expresses his enthusiasm for representing his country and striving to win as a player. Playing for Nigeria always filled me with pride, and participating in five Africa Cup of Nations demonstrates my dedication.

Okocha remains a popular figure throughout the continent and has been mobbed by admirers in Abidjan since his arrival on Wednesday. “Even though I retired from football 16 years ago the reception I receive from people shows that if you do something from your heart, play your heart out, people recognise that and respect you for that.”

With four of Ivory Coast’s neighbours – Guinea, Ghana, Mali and Burkina Faso – playing at the tournament and with visa-free entry for their fans, the Afcon is expected to have a much larger international fan presence than the last tournament in Cameroon, presenting a critical organisational test for a Caf led by the South African Patrice Motsepe.

Motsepe’s debut tournament as Caf president, in Cameroon in 2022, managed under the prevailing Covid restrictions, was bloodstained. Eight people died and more than 30 were injured because of unacceptably poor crowd control measures at Yaoundé’s Olembe Stadium during a match between the hosts and Comoros. It was the first time in the history of the Afcon, which started in 1957, that such a fatal tragedy occurred.

“The experience was very traumatic and lives with me to this date,” says Giovanni Bambe Wanneh, a Cameroonian journalist who was an eyewitness at the disaster. “As I made my way to the southern entrance, I saw bloodstains scattered on the surface … Medics were running helter-skelter …

It is unfortunate that children, men, and women lost their lives in a tragic manner due to the sport, especially since it could have been prevented. The event, which was meant to be a success, will now be remembered for this tragic incident.

Motsepe, who took over as Caf president in March 2021, was severely criticised for the disaster under his watch. “I have a fundamental duty, as the president of Caf, to make sure that the circumstances, the infrastructure, the facilities [for an Afcon] are in line with safety [standards] worldwide,” Motsepe said in Yaoundé in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The billionaire will be held accountable by the gaming community for the next four weeks.

Source: theguardian.com