To read the full interview, https://www.rfi.fr/fr/podcasts/invité-afrique/20220107-can-2022-il-y-a-une-bonne-dizaine-d-équipes-qui-peuvent-conquérir-cette-coupe-dit-fouzi-lekjaa
(…)
Have some players been impacted by the Covid ?
Today, the group, at this time, is serene, intact.
Do you trust Cameroon to organize this competition well? ?
I think the Cameroonian authorities have made enormous efforts. They have indeed put everything in place to make this CAN a real party. Now, the only hazard and which does not depend on anyone is the Covid. And that is something exogenous.
Yes, but last month, did you not support the idea of postponing the CAN several weeks or even several months ?
In November, we were in Egypt for the general assembly of the CAF [Confédération africaine de football] and everyone was unanimous in starting the CAN January 9, as scheduled. Afterwards, following the evolution of Covid-19 and the appearance of the new Omicron variant, of course, we discussed. Nobody, I say nobody, spoke of postponement. It was the other way around. Myself, I have seen the evolution of the infrastructures, the stadiums, it is something extraordinary. And besides, the Moroccan team was one of the first teams to be there. We have been in Cameroon since January 2 and everything is going under the best conditions today, as I speak to you.
It is even said that your team arrived with a large quantity of materials, food, water, mattresses, and even with cooks …
Each nation has its gastronomic habits. So there are always two or three cooks who accompany the national team. And there is obviously the medical equipment, since our staff is obliged to do daily tests, to test everyone and to manage the situation.
It is even said that, in the hotel where you are, it is Moroccan employees who have taken the place of Cameroonian employees …
I’ll tell you one thing. If today, you want to respect sanitary devices, you have to put people in a bubble “ negative » [où les gens sont tous négatifs au Covid], because today, as soon as there is a movement of exits and entries, etc., the risk becomes high. We are in a bubble, it’s very simple. And I think all teams will do the same.
Does the African Football Confederation (CAF) has been doing better for a year, since the arrival of Patrice Motsepe as its head ?
Much better. In terms of image already, there was a lot of work, a lot of restructuring that was done.
Have the two previous presidents, Issa Hayatou and Ahmad Ahmad, been bad managers ?
Mr. Hayatou did what he might do. Mr. Ahmad did what he might do. Each with their own style.
And you regret that Messrs Hayatou and Ahmad are not invited to the official stand of the opening match this Sunday ?
The truth is, I’m not even aware of the guest list. And invite the former presidents of the CAF is an imperative, it is a recognition of a bit of a history that will be used to build the future.
The World Cup is every four years. Does it now have to be every two years ?
I am completely convinced. This will give the opportunity to globalize football, to allow more countries, nations, to participate in this World Cup.
But suddenly, should we not give up an African Cup of Nations every two years? ?
The World Cup every two years has no connection with the organization of the Africa Cup every two years, since in any case, the World Cup every two years is continental competitions, the African Cup in particular, which will allow, which will be the gateway to qualifying for the World Cup.
Ah, OK. There would be no more on one side CAN and on the other the qualifiers for the World Cup …
No no.
Of the two current competitions, we would only do one ?
That is to say that the qualifiers will be arranged for the teams that will play the African Cup. And suppose Africa has 10 places, it will be the top 10 from the Africa Cup that will go to the World Cup.
We can imagine for example that the first 10 of the CAN of this year in Cameroon go to Qatar at the end of this year …
This is an example, if we are in the logic of the World Cup every two years.