by The Confederation of African Football, CAF announced on Wednesday that two Africa Cup of Nations matches will be relocated from Japoma Stadium in Douala to Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium in Yaounde.
One quarter-final and the February 2 semi-final will be moved to the Cameroonian capital because of concerns over the state of the pitch in Douala, two CAF officials told AFP under the cover of anonymity.
CAF president Patrice Motsepe had said Tuesday the quarter-final due to be played at the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde will be switched to the Ahmadou Ahidjo Stadium after a deadly crash that killed eight people.
The decision to shift that match away from the 60,000-seat Olembe Stadium was reached on Wednesday after Motsepe hosted a meeting with tournament organisers.
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CAF said in a statement that “The next match that was scheduled for the Olembe Stadium will not take place until CAF and the Local Organising Committee have received the full report of the Investigation Committee (into the Olembe incident) indicating the circumstances and events that led to the injury and death of spectators at the Olembe Stadium,”
The second semi-final, to be played on February 3, is still scheduled at Olembe Stadium for the time being.
The statement also added that “The CAF AFCON Organising Committee also requires the assurance and guarantee that appropriate and adequate interventions and measures have been implemented to ensure that a similar incident will not occur.”
Crowds at all venues had been limited to 60 per cent of capacity for the tournament because of the pandemic, but the cap is raised to 80 per cent when Cameroon play.
AFP
