Following reports and calls from Comoros officials for Cameroon to be disqualified from the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after losing the hosting rights, CAF has clarified its position noting that the Indomitable Lions will not be barred from the upcoming tournament.
Cameroon would have qualified automatically for the AFCON finals as the hosts before their hosting rights were stripped.
Now Comoros, who are third in Group B of the qualifiers behind Cameroon, want CAF to apply its rule that bans the national team of a country that has lost hosting rights.
However, the continent’s football governing body explains why Cameroon has been exempted.
“The penalty component was not applied because some factors were taken into account,” said Constant Omari, CAF 2nd vice president.
“Here is a country that has mobilised huge investment for the tournament. But unfortunately, there are uncertainties related to the progress of construction sites. So, we will not punish them twice.
“As things stand Cameroon is qualified. But if the Comoros win in the last qualifying match, the result will play. Cameroon is not excluded. They have to qualify on the field,” he said.
If Cameroon do not lose the final match to be played at home against Comoros they will sail through.
Interested candidates for the 2019 AFCON have been requested to submit their application until December 14.
Congo Brazzaville is the first and only applicant for now for the hosting rights, according to Omari.
