AFCON 2015: Accommodation Woes Mar Opening Days in Equatorial Guinea
Bata, Equatorial Guinea — Organizational problems have marred the opening days of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with several national teams reporting serious accommodation issues upon arrival in Equatorial Guinea.
Congo’s head coach Claude Le Roy, a veteran of eight previous AFCON tournaments, did not mince his words, calling the situation “unbelievable” and “unacceptable.” Le Roy revealed that members of his delegation were left without sleeping arrangements. “We don’t know where some of us will sleep. Seven of us don’t have a place,” he said on Wednesday.
The Tunisian national team, the Carthage Eagles, experienced even greater difficulties. Upon their arrival, a power outage lasting over three and a half hours left the team in darkness. Once the electricity was restored, the delegation discovered their hotel rooms were ill-equipped: no sheets, no soap, no running water, and no televisions. The Tunisian Football Federation immediately filed a complaint with the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The situation prompted an on-site inspection by senior CAF officials and a personal visit from Equatorial Guinea’s Minister of Sports. Emergency measures were implemented to restore basic facilities and calm the growing unrest.
Images circulated on social media showed officials touring the Tunisian team’s accommodation to assess the extent of the issues, adding further pressure on organisers.
Le Roy, who had previously raised concerns about the host nation’s readiness, issued a stark warning. “If one morning the training grounds are unavailable, I fear the worst,” he said. “People are too quick to excuse these shortcomings by saying, ‘Put yourself in the shoes of the Equatoguineans.’ No! They chose to host this tournament — they must assume full responsibility.”
Equatorial Guinea stepped in as emergency hosts of AFCON 2015 after Morocco withdrew over Ebola fears. The rapid preparations have left little margin for error, and these early logistical setbacks have sparked concerns over the country’s capacity to stage Africa’s biggest football event smoothly.
The tournament kicks off on Saturday, with hopes that the football on display will soon overshadow the controversies off the pitch.
