The authorities of African football are regularly torn behind the scenes as in the public square. While the CAN 2022 launches Sunday in Yaoundé, it is one of the legends of the round ball in Cameroon who has just launched a new arrow. The former striker Roger Milla, used to sharp outings, this time attacked the Maghreb federations.
In an interview with TV5 Monde, the 69-year-old Old Lion lambasted the attitude of Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria and Egypt within the African Football Confederation (CAF). “The Maghreb countries are the ones who always mess things up. They’re the ones who always make a mess, I’m sorry. I am going to tell them here as their brother, whether it is Morocco, Egypt or whatever, that this is not normal. If they are not Africans, let them go and play for Europe, for Asia or for others, but they do not come to make a mess on the African continent, indicated a Roger Milla very irritated. They have always evolved on the African continent. And we have accepted them, moreover, so I do not see why today they continue to speak badly regarding other countries and Africa, it is not normal. “
These comments refer to the procrastination around the maintenance, postponement or relocation of this CAN 2022. Late construction sites, health constraints linked to Covid-19 … this 33rd edition almost never happened. Not to mention the pressure exerted by European clubs, and in particular English, to retain the players as much as possible.
In mid-December, FIFA itself submitted the organization of the tournament to a vote, its president Gianni Infantino clearly positioning himself for a postponement (to better promote his Club World Cup?). Member states refused the postponement. Three federations would have voted for according to the Algerian site competition.dz : the Moroccan Fouzi Lekjaa, the Egyptian Hani Abu Rida and the Burkinabè Sita.
The first match of the competition (January 9-February 6) will take place this Sunday January 9 at 5 p.m. A duel between the Indomitable Lions and Burkina Faso.
