The possibility that Olembe Stadium would host certain fixtures during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations remains a pipe dream, Ducor Sports can reveal.
The move comes after Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials showed dissatisfaction with it when they visited the facility a fortnight ago.
The officials, who are inspecting the facilities in the country ahead of the continental fiesta set for January 9- February 6 next year, raised a number of queries on the standards of the stadium and the readiness to host the showpiece.
The inspection team, led by CAF Deputy Secretary General Anthony Baffoe, questioned the ability of the contractor,MAGIL Construction Company, to complete the remaining part of work at the facility before the end of June.
MAGIL manager Yoann Ropital, however, has assured the Cameroonian government that his company is committed to do the needful to ensure the stadium is completed in time.
“Between the end of July and the beginning of August, the changing rooms will be functional together with the sanitary part. The locker rooms furniture will also be on site at the end of July,” Ropital told reporters on Friday.
“For the playing turf it will be ready at the end of July and the stadium will be able to host an international match in mid-August.”
Cameroon government marked Olembe Stadium as the host for the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The bird nest shaped stadium, has been constructed on a surface area of 34 hectares in the Olembe neighborhood in Yaounde, some 13km from the city centre.
It has a capacity of 60,000 seats all covered, two training stadia with 3000 seats each, play grounds for other disciplines; handball, basketball volleyball, tennis, an Olympic swimming pool, a hotel, shopping mall, five restaurants, 6000sqm for VIP hospitality, cinema conference centre and a hall of fame.
