11st edition of the West Africa Challenge Cup: The challenges of the tournament revealed

Make Benin, the new preparation destination for clubs qualified to compete in the various competitions of the African Football Confederation. This is what justifies the organization of the West Africa Challenge Cup (WACC-2021). In front of the press the past week, the organizers of this international tournament have drawn the public's attention to this competition which will take place from 14 at 22 August 2021 at the Charles De Gaule stadium in Porto-Novo and on the grounds of Saint Louis Stadium in Sèmè Kraké.  

Bold initiative to now allow Benin to place itself at the heart of the continental scene in the field of the organization of major football events. "We invented this preseason competition so that teams qualified for any of the two continental competitions meet in Cotonou. So, coming years, the clubs will be able to say, whether we qualify for the Caf Cup or the Champions League, we will go and prepare in Cotonou where Africa is coming to prepare ", said the Director of the competition, Sosthène Sèflimi.

To believe it, this competition has several economic interests. "Take part in the West Africa Challenge Cup, limit and reduce expenses. Indeed, we make only one trip. We are accommodated, fed and we will do international friendlies in the same place as we are. Better still, we are not concerned with the material organization of the meeting. Because it is entrusted to the structure that initiated the tournament. Therefore, the sporting interest is that we face other clubs that need to gauge themselves ", he hinted while adding "The sporting interest for the local clubs namely Loto-Popo and Buffles who will represent Benin respectively in the Champions League and the Confederation Cup, is that they have an exceptional opportunity to sparring with clubs that are engaged in an African campaign and have goals to achieve ". So he insisted that the WACC is designed to be "an additional communication medium in the service of the reforms initiated by the government and led by the Ministry of Sports".

In terms of safety and health, Rolland Zohoun, Events Manager Rolland Zohoun confided that all arrangements have been made for a good organization. "All the matches scheduled at Saint Louis Stadium in Kraké will be played behind closed doors while in Porto-Novo, only 2000 spectators will have access to the installations », he specified.

The particularity of this first edition is that there will be broadcasts of the matches with the commentary, former journalists like Mouf Liafy, René Bewa, Jean Marie Ehouzou. The cameramen will also be trained for the occasion by experts from Germany. “During the period of 11 at 23 August 2021, the retransmission on National TV of 11 shows on WACC. These programs have the particularity of reserving a section each time for the Ministry of Sports to raise awareness of the reforms at the level of Beninese sport ”, let Georges Amlon know, WACC-2021 Communications Director.

Note that six teams from the sub-region and Benin will be on the meeting. This is Asfa Yennega (Burkina Faso), Club life (Rd Congo), Akwa United (Nigeria), USGN (Niger), ease FC (Lotto Butt) and Buffalos du Borgou. They will be housed in two pools of three teams each. The first of each group will compete in the final.

Damien TOLOMISSI