Beset by months of issues and uncertainty, the month-long Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) receives under way on Sunday when host state Cameroon play Burkina Faso.
Preparations to get the massive monitors, stores, eating places and fan space prepared for heaps of supporters inside the nation's capital are absolutely in final-minute mode.
"We Cameroonians love to depart the whole lot to the last gasp," laughs Simon Atangana, a former country wide player who's part of an organisation putting in place the fan zones.
"Everything will of path be equipped. AFCON is going to be a huge party, and the pictures could be unfold round the arena."
But a familiar foe -- coronavirus -- is a capacity fly within the ointment.
The worldwide pandemic pressured the postponement of AFCON from final 12 months, and fears of some other delay had been eased only remaining month.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has set down difficult guidelines in a bid to save you AFCON turning into a extraordinary-spreader event.
Those wanting to go into the stadium need to be absolutely vaccinated -- in a country in which just six percent of the grownup population has been jabbed -- and display a negative PCR take a look at for the virus this is much less than 72 hours antique.
Venues have been limited to 60 percentage of ability, although this is being raised to 80 percent when Cameroon's "Indomitable Lions" take the field.
The rampant spread of the Omicron variant is casting a pall over group lineups.
