22 May 2006
NIGERIA : Angola Stalk Nigeria Again!
Only seven months after successfully barring Nigeria's way from a fourth consecutive World Cup finals, southern African country, Angola, is planning to do a double in quick time. Angola want to host the 2010 African Nations Cup finals at the expense of the world's largest black nation.
After the shortlist of four bids from the initial eight had been released by CAF on Sunday night, it became clear that a straight race between Nigeria and Angola had been accomplished.
Gabon, who are floating a joint bid with neighbouring Equatorial Guinea, recently withdrew from hosting the 5th African Women Championship for which she had won the right. It was the third time that the tiny, oil-rich nation in central Africa would put CAF in dire straits, compelling the world body to look for hosts for tournaments that were at the door. CAF has already handed the AWC to Nigeria to host for the third time, after 1998 and 2002.
Although CAF inspectors will still go round the short-listed five countries in July and August before a final decision is made in mid-September, it is clear that the continent's football-governing body would not be comfortable with anything involving Gabon, meaning that even if they find Equatorial Guinea worthy and willing, they could advise them to opt for the staging of a junior tournament in a few years' time. Perhaps, the African Youth Championship in 2009, or the 6th African Women Championship in two years.
As for Libya, their case is so weak that even the bid committee is not enthusiastic about pushing it with vigour. North African countries, Tunisia and Egypt, hosted the finals in 2004 and 2006, with the 2008 edition to be held in Ghana.
Although Angola have a solid case to host, since the southern African region has hosted the finals only once before (South Africa, in 1996), it remains to be seen how much the infrastructure that was destroyed by 27 years of civil war has been put back into shape.
The country has oil money, and appearance at the World Cup finals this summer will go a long way to underscore the fact that Angola is not only about basketball. It will also initiate a football culture, but that would still be in the early stages by 2010.
Angola have not hosted an African competition till date, with no peace in that country since independence in 1975. The death of rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi four years ago, paved the way for peace, but the cost of a debilitating 27-year civil strife is still being counted by the government and people.
How much could be achieved in three years? CAF inspectors will arrive Angola in July to discover that it would not be a suitable venue for its flagship tournament, which is now a universally-followed three- week, 16-team championship with all the paraphernalia of an African World Cup.Yet, Nigeria have to be cautious. There is still the reported gang-up by southern African countries, on the basis of having hosted the championship only once before. South Africa, with her immense resources, is known to be ready to finance construction work in Angola at break-neck speed, and offer other technical support. But this is one race that looks sealed for Nigeria.
However, it must be recalled that the World Cup 2006 race also looked sealed for the Eagles after they were drawn in a relatively cheap pool involving Angola, Gabon, Algeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. But we are still shedding tears for that over-confidence.
The message in this is for the Nigeria 2010 Bid Team, which has the highly-experienced and competent Dr. Amos Adamu (CAF executive committee member and FIFA executive member), not to rest on its oars, and keep the momentum going until the final decision is made on September 14.
By Adomola Olajire
After the shortlist of four bids from the initial eight had been released by CAF on Sunday night, it became clear that a straight race between Nigeria and Angola had been accomplished.
Gabon, who are floating a joint bid with neighbouring Equatorial Guinea, recently withdrew from hosting the 5th African Women Championship for which she had won the right. It was the third time that the tiny, oil-rich nation in central Africa would put CAF in dire straits, compelling the world body to look for hosts for tournaments that were at the door. CAF has already handed the AWC to Nigeria to host for the third time, after 1998 and 2002.
Although CAF inspectors will still go round the short-listed five countries in July and August before a final decision is made in mid-September, it is clear that the continent's football-governing body would not be comfortable with anything involving Gabon, meaning that even if they find Equatorial Guinea worthy and willing, they could advise them to opt for the staging of a junior tournament in a few years' time. Perhaps, the African Youth Championship in 2009, or the 6th African Women Championship in two years.
As for Libya, their case is so weak that even the bid committee is not enthusiastic about pushing it with vigour. North African countries, Tunisia and Egypt, hosted the finals in 2004 and 2006, with the 2008 edition to be held in Ghana.
Although Angola have a solid case to host, since the southern African region has hosted the finals only once before (South Africa, in 1996), it remains to be seen how much the infrastructure that was destroyed by 27 years of civil war has been put back into shape.
The country has oil money, and appearance at the World Cup finals this summer will go a long way to underscore the fact that Angola is not only about basketball. It will also initiate a football culture, but that would still be in the early stages by 2010.
Angola have not hosted an African competition till date, with no peace in that country since independence in 1975. The death of rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi four years ago, paved the way for peace, but the cost of a debilitating 27-year civil strife is still being counted by the government and people.
How much could be achieved in three years? CAF inspectors will arrive Angola in July to discover that it would not be a suitable venue for its flagship tournament, which is now a universally-followed three- week, 16-team championship with all the paraphernalia of an African World Cup.Yet, Nigeria have to be cautious. There is still the reported gang-up by southern African countries, on the basis of having hosted the championship only once before. South Africa, with her immense resources, is known to be ready to finance construction work in Angola at break-neck speed, and offer other technical support. But this is one race that looks sealed for Nigeria.
However, it must be recalled that the World Cup 2006 race also looked sealed for the Eagles after they were drawn in a relatively cheap pool involving Angola, Gabon, Algeria, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. But we are still shedding tears for that over-confidence.
The message in this is for the Nigeria 2010 Bid Team, which has the highly-experienced and competent Dr. Amos Adamu (CAF executive committee member and FIFA executive member), not to rest on its oars, and keep the momentum going until the final decision is made on September 14.
By Adomola Olajire
# posted by afrbk : 16:26
