LUANDA - Confederation of African Football President, Issa Hayatou has described the January 10 to 31 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament as fairly balanced despite the attack and eventual withdrawn of Togo from the competition.
During a special interaction with the media here, Hayatou said it was encouraging that in the last "we had  Angola, holders Egypt, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria, all the countries who will represent the continent at the World Cup in South Africa and Zambia, whose team comprised of players who played in the last two AFCON editions and youngsters from the Under-19 FIFA World Cup of 2007." Â
Asked about the dispute over the regulations and the elimination of Mali, who went out because Algeria and Angola 'decided' to play to a draw at the expense of the Malians who could have gone to the next round had either of the two lost, Hayatou said regulations had been strictly enforced since the beginning of the tournament.
"The regulations were known before and could not be changed. We debated for some time. Should it change? Everyone can express themselves. The question is asked. I do not say yes or no; it's not me who decides but the Executive Committee of CAF."
After 22 years at the helm of the African soccer controlling body, the CAF President whose term comes to an end in 2013, refused to comment on whether he will stand again  or retire.
However he was quick to dismiss reports of hosting the AFCON every four years as has been suggested  in some quarters instead of the biennial event.
"We need in our countries' sports infrastructure. Four stadia were built in Ghana 2008, another four this year in Angola. These would not have happened without the AFCON. The AFCON is a development tool not only in the area that is the only football," he said adding that the decision to host the AFCON on odd years is also still pending as it "requires a great reflection on the feasibility in terms of qualifying for major tournaments."
According to Hayatou, the host countries for the AFCON 2016 will be decided later this year, six years before the start of the competition. On the issue of the attack on Togo in Cabinda, he said: "That Friday, moments after we heard of the incident, the CAF President and First Vice President, Seyi Memene headed for Cabinda. On Saturday morning, after an appointment scheduled with Angolan Prime Minister, accompanied by nearly all members of the Executive Committee, I visited the team of Togo to offer condolences and inform them that it remains their decision to leave or stay, whichever reason will be understood and accepted.
I went to meet each of the delegations present in Cabinda, CĂ´te d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Ghana and confirmed to them that the Angolan Prime Minister, had assured me that security would be tightened around each team. Before returning to Luanda in the evening, I met the Governor of Cabinda, who, in turn, gave all the guarantees."
President Issa Hayatou said that the tragedy had taken place 100 miles from Cabinda in the forest, far from the competition venue.
He also sent a letter of condolence to the Head of State of Togo.But Hayatou insisted partly that security measures had been "scrupulously" respected by the host country in accordance with specifications, partly on the fact that "AFCON is a symbol for the entire African continent and that the CAF does not allow itself away from the mission of peace."
He further reminded that no country was without violence and that no country in the world would be able to provide an absolute guarantee to its citizens and visitors. This is fact in Africa, United States of America, Europe and elsewhere.
