Bassey commends Akwa Ibom over successful hosting of CAF Confederation Cup

Players from RS Berkane celebrate after they won the CAF Confederation Cup final football match between South Africa’s Orlando Pirates and RS Berkane of Morocco at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on May 20, 2022. (Photo by Pius Utomi EKPEI / AFP)

Three weeks after the successful hosting of the CAF Confederation Cup final by Akwa Ibom State, the general coordinator of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the event, Elder Paul Bassey, has lauded Governor Udom Emmanuel for a ‘near flawless’ hosting.

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Speaking in Ilorin at the weekend, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Emmanuel on Sports, said the most challenging part of the assignment was the security and safety of the various visitors that trooped into Nigeria for the continental final.

He said: “Two days before the final, we witnessed the arrival of the seven-man VAR group from Switzerland and I said to myself …God, have mercy. After that came the CAF team, most of them ‘whites,’ the Moroccan delegation, the CAF guests and VIPs. That they all came in and left safely without any incident, whatsoever, makes me salute Governor Emmanuel for superintending one of the safest, if not the safest state in Nigeria.

“In the course of taking a hosting decision, security concerns were raised, yet the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF convinced CAF that Akwa Ibom was safe, peaceful and hospitable and this was manifested to the letter through a robust security architecture that left nothing to chance. Even spectators that turned out in great number, going back home by midnight had nothing to fear.”

Bassey also commended the chairman of the LOC and Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Monday Ebong Uko, who oversaw an action plan that made the state, as well as Nigeria, proud