Lionhearted Cameroonian sues CAF for illogical inflation of 2019 AFCON teams

Lionhearted Abdouraman Hamadou Babba, President of Etoile Filante of Garoua, has taken the Confederation of African Football (CAF), to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) for raising the number of Africa Cup of Nations (CAF) teams from 16 to 24 for the 2019 tournament to be hosted by Cameroon.

CAF Executive Committee, July 20, decided to increase the number of teams to participate in the 2019 AFCON from 16 to 24 and moved the hosting period from January to June.

Abdouraman Babba, who is acting as a member of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), said such a decision is arbitrary.  

“This procedure aims at obliging CAF to backtrack on its decision for the organisation of the 2019 Nations Cup with 16 teams as stipulated in the initial regulations,” Abdouraman asserted.

Abdouraman’s decision is informed by “the multiple consequences which will give CAF the leeway to withdraw the competition from Cameroon, the illegality of the Cameroon Football administration and their incapacity to take CAF to court.”

But FECAFOOT President, Tombi ả Roko Sidiki, in a release asserted that FECAFOOT in tandem with the Government is commitment to respect CAF’s decision.

“FECAFOOT would assist the Government and CAF for an optimum organisation of the first ever Nations Cup with 24 teams,” Tombi wrote.

But to Tombi, Abdouraman ceased to be President of Etoile Filante, following the election of Hamadou Abdoulaye as President in 2014.

In response on his facebook page, Abdouraman advised FECAFOOT President to send the original copy of the release to Lausanne as CAF would need it to defend itself.

Meanwhile, President Paul Biya has invited CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, to Yaounde for talks.