Forty years after its first participation, Ivory Coast is currently hosting a men's African Cup of Nations (CAN). On the pitch, the host team is fighting to stay in the table and win the third continental title in their history. Off the field, the country is aiming for another triumph: to present itself to the rest of Africa and the world as a cash-rich organizer of an event whose final economic balance is unknown whether it will win or lose.
“In the short term it has a positive effect,” says Roméo Boye, doctor of economics and researcher at the Ivorian Center for Economic and Social Research, on the other end of the phone. The anticipation, the festive atmosphere and the arrival of foreign visitors are boosting hotels, restaurants, bars and souvenir sales, for the part of the economy that can be seen on the street during the month – from January 13 to February 11 – as long as the Competition lasts. “And that will have a positive impact on our GDP this year,” said Boye, who also cited the foreign exchange inflow as good news for the central bank. According to the World Bank, the gross domestic product of the country, the region's largest economy and the world's leading producer of cocoa and cashew nuts, is around 70 billion dollars (around 64 billion euros).
At the forefront, in the ranks of the 10,000 volunteers who take part in the organization, Arsène Ehui, a doctoral student, assures that “this event is causing economic disruption”. “The CAN has given rise to new businesses such as bars, restaurants, maquis – small, local, popular open-air canteens – hotels and spaces specifically dedicated to CAN,” he emphasizes. Although in certain cases, he clarifies, they are only temporary. “If CAN ends, I'll have to look for another job,” confesses Kone Kadiatou, a 27-year-old boy from Yamoussoukro, the political capital of Ivory Coast, as he collects papers and bottles after a game between Burkina Faso and Angola in the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
Just as some companies thrived in the spotlight of the Africa Cup of Nations, others perished in its shadow. Before the ball started rolling, the authorities closed street stalls, for example for health and safety reasons. “They ruined the subsistence economy of a large part of the small traders,” says Jean Arsène Yao, historian, journalist and professor at the Spanish department at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan. Informal settlements were also affected. “The media has already commented on this issue and decided to leave it behind a little and deal with it later,” comments Julien Adhepeau, professor of advertising communication at the same university. “
A distributed competition
When Ivory Coast first hosted this competition in 1984, there were two venues. Five were selected on this occasion: Abidjan, which has enormous importance for the country's economic activity, Yamoussoukro, the capital, San Pedro, Korhogo and Bouaké. This geographical dispersion, which distributes attention and expenditure, can contribute to the development of cities, also due to the associated improvements in infrastructure.
It is precisely this aspect that led economist Andrew Zimbalist to point out in a 2010 paper that mega sporting events can leave a deeper mark on developing countries by serving as a catalyst for this work. “The impact on infrastructure construction is very important,” says Adhepeau. “There were many problems with movement within the country. Nowadays you can get from Abidjan to Korhogo – from south to north – in a very short time,” he adds. However, Yao points out, improvements of this kind had already been included in the country's development plans before the event was organized.
The government has invested in the construction and improvement of bridges, airports, 24 training centers and residences for the delegations. In addition, hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated for four new stadiums and the renovation of two existing stadiums.
In addition to roads, the government has invested in the construction and improvement of bridges, airports, 24 training centers and “CAN cities” with residences for the delegations. In addition, hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated for four new stadiums and the renovation of two existing stadiums. In total, the bill last August amounted to $1 billion (around 920 million euros), according to then-sports minister Paulin Danho, who was soon fired along with the prime minister following the flooding of the new stadium in Abidjan. said Africa24. Some media are already talking about more than 1.6 billion (1.5 billion euros). And given these numbers, the question arises as to whether the country is worth it.
“I believe that different economic impacts need to be measured,” says Juan Carlos Martínez Lázaro, professor of economics at IE University. On the one hand, the balance of the profit and loss statement with costs and income (entries, subsidies, sponsorship, emission rights…) are figures that are “rather in deficit,” he says. On the other hand, the medium or long-term intangible benefits that come from capitalizing on a successful organization. “If it manages to sell the image that it is an efficient, safe country that can welcome tourism… or, in a second step, could even receive investments,” clarifies Martínez Lázaro.
A 2016 Harvard Kennedy School analysis based on competitions such as the World Cup or the Olympics shows that while these events can – generally speaking, but with exceptions – have an impact on tourism, this impact usually does is temporary in nature, less than expected and dependent on other factors. But also that the actual benefits usually exceed the costs.
An analysis from Harvard University shows that while these events can have an impact on tourism, this impact is usually temporary and smaller than expected. Also that the actual benefits usually exceed the costs
The long-term effects, which Professor Boye does not yet know, will, in his opinion, depend on the ability to keep the infrastructure alive and prevent it from becoming a white elephant list, like the large structures that end up practically be destroyed unused. “This is about generating resources to be able to maintain these stadiums and the infrastructure,” he emphasizes. The president of the Ivorian Football Association, Idriss Diallo, explained that the intention is to make the country, which hosts the CAF Women's Champions League in 2023, a football operations center for the region. The problem is that there is no strong national competition today.
“The level is very low. “So I’m not sure if people will see a game in Yamoussoukro or San Pedro, for example,” says Boye, who also believes the long-term success of the event depends on strengthening the sector. Yao shares this vision. “When February 11 is over, what use will all these stadiums be?” Another thing, he says, is the impact it can have on sectors like hospitality. However, he doesn't believe in a green outcome: “The country has gotten into debt and we don't know how we can recover and repay the money we borrowed.”
Ivory Coast came to the Africa Cup of Nations four years ago after two internal conflicts in the first two decades of the millennium and a political storm
Others, including the government, see these infrastructures as a driver of development for the national sport. Ehui, a graduate student and volunteer with the organization, also believes better facilities will give a boost to the national championship. Daghau Komenan, a historian specializing in international relations, doesn't see it so clearly. “To make Ivory Coast a football power, they must first pay the players better. “We need to really professionalize the sector, rid it of corruption and strengthen local teams so that the country has a quality championship that attracts African talent,” he affirms. “We have more stadiums and I think there will be businesses there. More job opportunities will be created and I think that will be positive,” says Adhepeau, professor of advertising communications.
Political benefit
Ivory Coast came to the Africa Cup of Nations four years ago after two internal conflicts in the first two decades of the millennium and a political storm. The first civil war lasted five years, from 2002 to 2007; The second race emerged after an election in late 2010 and lasted almost until the following summer. From this last conflict, Alassane Ouattara emerged as president and after serving two terms in office, the maximum period allowed by the constitution, he decided to run for a third term in 2020, sparking protests and clashes in the country . “In my opinion, the government wanted to use this cup to convey the image of a reconciled country,” says historian Yao.
The government wanted to use this trophy to convey the image of a reconciled country
The president of the organizing committee itself, Francois Amichia, pointed out reasons beyond economic ones last December, according to the BBC. “When Ivory Coast decided to organize this Nations Cup, it was not about making money, but about repositioning itself,” he said. “I don’t think there is any financial gain to cover the expenses in the CAN,” says Komenan. “I think it's not just about promoting the economy, but also about presenting yourself and giving a friendly face to the world or Africa,” he explains.
And not just outside. These types of competitions are generally able to create a sense of togetherness and common direction, even if it is only temporary. “It is something important on a political level,” says Adhepeau. “It allows us to, let's say, create unity behind this team.” For Komenan, the issue goes a little further and believes the government has its sights set on next year's elections. He says Ivory Coast has always enjoyed a power status, at least in West Africa. “And people crave that status a little bit,” he explains. “And the current administration is trying to give that impression, at least cosmetically. I think they’ll capitalize on that.”
Meanwhile, relations between the continent's countries take a different course at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium. The Burkinabe crowd left the game a few minutes before the end of the game, upset with their team after the defeat against Angola. Bernard Suka, member of the Angolan Federation, arrived from Luanda. “I love meeting people from other countries,” he says as he greets a group of Burkinabe people who congratulate him on his victory. The stadium looks new and shiny. Even the chairs in the press room still have their plastic covers. Burkinabe are in the majority in the stadium. Ivory Coast is the main destination for its migrants and both countries share the Dioula language, but their border is under terrorist control.
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