This archive report was first published on 5 December 2019.
December 5, 2019
Cameroon's ability to host the 2021 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) has been put to doubt after the Italian company charged with the construction of the main stadium abandoned the project.
The Olembe Sports Complex in Yaoundé, which includes a 60,000 capacity stadium, was due to be completed in December 2020 but the government claims the Italian company, Piccini, unilaterally abandoned the site.
Cameroon's minister of Sports and Physical Education, Prof Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, said the construction of the complex had been rescinded from Piccini and awarded to Canadian firm, MAGIL Construction.
According to Prof Mouelle Kombi, the government had made available FCFA 2 billion (3.3 million US dollars) to get work started, but Piccini failed to deliver.
Piccini has threatened to seek legal action against the government's decision, both at national and international levels.
MAGIL Construction, the new contractor, has promised to deliver the infrastructure by June 2021, despite the original deadline being December 2020.
