![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/ae794cff93f14c788253035a45808033-696x400.jpeg\" "\\"ae794cff93f14c788253035a45808033\\"\/")
<\/div>\nThe president of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has said there will be a \u201czero tolerance\u201d approach to ensuring stadiums are safe at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon),\u00a0which kicks off in January.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the draw for next year\u2019s tournament in Ivory Coast, Patrice Motsepe acknowledged \u201cavoidable\u201d mistakes had been made during the 2021 tournament in Cameroon, which witnessed a tragedy when\u00a0at least eight people were killed in a crush outside Yaounde\u2019s Olembe Stadium.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a huge amount of focus because the safety of our spectators is crucial,\u201d Motsepe told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen families come to watch a football match, they have to be absolutely assured that, from a Caf perspective and our partners, we have done everything possible in line with global best practices to make sure that the facilities and the infrastructure are safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s zero tolerance.\u201d<\/p>\n
Olembe crush \u2013 \u2018mistakes were made\u2019<\/h3>\n
The tragedy in January 2022 unfolded after a gate to the Olembe Stadium in Yaounde was opened as a result of a heavy build-up of spectators during a Nations Cup last-16 match between hosts Cameroon and Comoros.<\/p>\n
The stadium was kept as the venue for the final, despite the fatal incident.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome mistakes were made, and some of those mistakes were avoidable,\u201d said Motsepe, praising the \u201cabsolute commitment\u201d of the key parties involved.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very clear that the quality of infrastructure to host the top African competition has to be world-class.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat we\u2019re doing over the next few months is to make sure that the infrastructure in its totality is excellent.\u201d<\/p>\n Motsepe added that the media had an \u201cimportant\u201d part to play in holding organisers to the highest standards.<\/p>\n \u201cPart of the role of the media is to criticise us, to identify those areas where there are deficiencies and weaknesses,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why it\u2019s very, very important that we work together with the media so that they can help us identify some of the areas which, in your [media] view, require urgent attention.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve got a team of people that have been here for the last six months working on a day-to-day basis with the government.\u201d<\/p>\n Motsepe praised the \u201cabsolute commitment\u201d of the key parties involved and the \u201cexcellent work\u201d of Ivorian Prime Minister Patrick Achi to prepare for the delayed 2023 tournament.<\/p>\n Achi, who remains in temporary charge until the appointment of a new prime minister and government, says \u2013 with three months to go \u2013 preparation is key to ensuring the Ivorian stadia are safe.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat we\u2019re doing right now, is what you call \u2018test matches\u2019 which means whatever you will do, you want zero tolerance. So you want to test well in advance. Anything can happen. That\u2019s what we\u2019ve been doing,\u201d Achi told BBC Sport Africa.<\/p>\n \u201cWe may find other things and solve them. But you have to have test matches \u2013 this is what is very different than what we\u2019ve been doing so far.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd we think that we\u2019ll get there right on time ready for a very, very, very, very big event,\u201d Achi added.<\/p>\n The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations kicks off on 13 January 2024 \u2013 with hosts Ivory Coast taking on Guinea-Bissau in the opening game.<\/p>\n The final will take place on Sunday, 11 February.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n![\"Patrice](\"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/_131431544_gettyimages-1529578789.jpg\")