So Equatorial Guinea gets the opportunity to host the nation’s cup less than three years when she did. Not too bad for the citizenry in there to be the cynosure of all eyes for three memorable weeks I reckon. But how was this done soo quickly with hosts Morocco pulling out at the death and highly fancied nations like Ghana (yes Ghana), Nigeria, South Africa and Egypt all pulling out. Word is that these football nations were sounded out by the hierarchy of the continents football body CAF for hosting rights as Morocco threatened to pull out. The irony in all this is that the Maghreb nation is only a few weeks away from staging a second FIFA Club World Championships but why on earth did they not want to be a part of the continental showpiece? Well, the last time they hosted in 1988, they were simply not good enough to make it any closer to the final with Nigeria and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon stealing the show. A golden generation of Moroccan players could have replicated what the Egypt (1986, 2006), Algeria (1990) and Tunisia (2004) did by hosting and winning the nations Nation’s Cup.

Let us focus on our new host Equatorial Guinea. I was privileged to be in the oil rich nation for their co-hosting of the games in 2012(They did with Gabon).My first experience in the city of Bata for the semi-final between the Black Stars and the Chipolopolo of Zambia could not have passed without incident. For a country that officially has Spanish and French as its official languages, my grasp of both languages was always going to give me up. You bet it did. After touching down at the Bata International Airport in very difficult weather conditions from Libreville, I quickly spotted French greats Marcel Desailly and Basille Boli, two Africans who could have played for Ghana and Ivory Coast. Just when I got close to my fellow Ghanaian counterpart (Odenke Abbey) I was ‘accosted’ by a man in military uniform rattling loads of what I made out to be some plenty Spanish. I quickly reached for my pocket dictionary to get a few words going just in case some questions were posed to me. I could only utter ‘gracias’(thank you )after several checks on my passport.

As the game was going to be kicking off in less than two hours, I had to find my way to the Estadio de Bata. I was smart enough to have changed some money (obama dollars)into some francs at the airport. I hopped into a taxi and what a pleasant surprise I had. After muttering out a few words to myself, the taxi driver went like “me nua, bokoo de3” literally translating into how are you doing my brother? Eii Ghanaians, we are everywhere oooooo. I could not stop laughing. I was at the stadium in less than twenty minutes and what an edifice it was for such a small country. Aside the fact that it had been rehabilitated for the CAN, the facilities at the Stadium blew me away. First class services mates. Top notch. I even had the opportunity to make free calls, yes free calls oooooo. All because I had an accreditation and that gave me the opportunity to do plenty things. Good ones I mean.

Ghana lost out to Zambia in the semis. What that meant was that I would have the opportunity to see the 15,000 capacity stadium in Malabo for the third place game only 48-hours after my time in Bata. After spending the night in a plush 3-star hotel, I was on my way to Libreville the next morning and to Malabo for the third place game. A deflated Black Stars were not up for it and lost to Mali but for me, the bigger picture again was my impression of the City Malabo and its unique landmarks. There were plush condos, I mean the one you would see in Obronikrom all the way from the Airport to the stadium. The oil money is really making a difference here ooo, I said to myself. I was in state of shock when I was told by a local that most of the condos were even unoccupied and that there were far too may many of them for the small population. What a woow? I mean there are more apartments than the populace in the City? Several unfinished construction sites only had me remembering what I saw of Dubai and Qatar in the late 90’s. Building’s everywhere. Fine office buildings.  Oil money at work indeed.

They seemed to be on top of things if you like. From Hotel, Transport, food, accommodation, night life, name it. With my geographical background from the famous University of Ghana, I had read a lot about how President Obiang had literally siphoned the nation’s funds with his family and had done next to nothing for the people. If what I saw was anything to go by, I can at least say he had done something with the oil funds.

It’s a beautiful place for an event as grand as the AFCON. My only concern is how the pitches in Malabo and Bata would cope with such intense football over the three week period. Mr Boahene of Green Grass Technology may just be on his way to get a job for the period. How they would need such expertise with at least two games on these pitches every day. For the locals, they would have the opportunity of welcoming the world yet again to their oil rich nation. For the national team though, it’s a dream. Having been disqualified for using an ineligible player in the earlier phase of qualifying against Congo, a second chase would be grabbed with all the energy they can find. And do you remember Teodorin Obiang (the president’s son) gesture for their opening day win against Libya in 2012? The lads received a cool one million dollars for beating the North African side. Teodorin gave an additional $15,000 to each goal scorer and $6,000 per game for every player who stepped on the pitch. How about that for motivation?

Malabo, having hosted then world champions Spain in a friendly and hosting them in the 580-million-euro Sipopo luxury hotel complex and Bata, known for its night life would be the place to be for the African football family between January 17-February 8.

Guinea Ecuatorial, aquí vengo.