Cameroon clubs take Caf to court over 2019 Afcon hosting rights

The Association of Amateur Clubs in Cameroon (Acfac) has lodged two cases against the Confederation of African Football (Caf) at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) over the loss of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) hosting rights.

Last month, Cameroon were stripped of the rights to host the competition by Caf due to infrastructure and security concerns.

“We have two cases at Cas, first is over Caf's decision to increase the participating countries from 16 to 24 and a second to contest the decision to strip Cameroon of hosting rights,” Acfac president Henri Claude Balla Ongolo told BBC Sport.

Back in 2014, when the 2019 Afcon was awarded to Cameroon, it was set to be a 16-nation tournament, but in summer 2017 it was increased to 24.

“Things were going to be difficult for Cameroon. Caf should shoulder the blame and this is why we have decided to take legal action against Caf,” Balla Ongolo said.

“We are viable as hosts. We are five months away and a lot of things can change.”

Change of plans

According to Caf, Cameroon will now host the 2021 edition of the tournament, instead of Ivory Coast, who have been moved to 2023.

However, this decision came with no grace to Guinea, who were due to host the 2023 Afcon, neither to Ivory Coast, who lodged a complaint with Cas against Caf.

For next year’s tournament South Africa and Egypt are the only bidders to replace Cameroon. A decision by Caf is expected to be given on 9 January, when the executive committee meets in Senegal.