The president of the Senegalese football federation, Augustin Senghor, expressed his lack of enthusiasm about Senegal hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN 2019). During the opening of the congress of the International Sports Press Association (Africa zone), Senghor mentioned that Senegal is not ready to host the continental competition. He cited the absence of adequate sports infrastructure meeting FIFA standards as a significant challenge and emphasized the need for the state to implement bold policies to address this gap.
Senghor’s remarks indicate concerns about the current state of preparedness for hosting CAN 2019 in Senegal. Infrastructure plays a crucial role in hosting major football tournaments, and Senghor highlights the importance of closing the infrastructure gap to successfully organize such an event.
While expressing skepticism about CAN 2019, Senghor remains optimistic about the progress of the CAN under 20 years, where Senegal is set to host. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has already visited the stadiums intended for the competition, suggesting a more positive outlook for the under-20 tournament in Senegal.
