A press release from the Ivorian presidency indicates that Ally Coulibaly has been appointed special advisor to Ouattara. François Albert Amichia will be responsible for the organization of CAN 2023.
The veil has been lifted this evening on the destination of the two former ministers, Ally Coulibaly and François Albert Amichia. After he was replaced in April, with the advent of the new government, the former Ivorian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ally Coulibaly was given a new mission. Indeed, Alassane Ouattara appointed him Special Advisor to the President, at the rank of Minister.
On the other hand, François Albert Amichia, former Minister of the City, will be the president of the Organizing Committee for the 2023 African Cup of Nations (CAN 2023). Distinguished Commander in the Ivorian Order of Sports Merit, Amichia was also Minister of Sports and Recreation. However, he had experienced a long period of absence from the political scene. Holder of the ministerial portfolio under Laurent Gbagbo, he was only reminded of the government in the government of the late Amadou Gon Coulibaly.
The appointment of Amichia in charge of the organization of CAN 2023 therefore puts an end to the claims of Miriam Dao Gabala at the same position. The senator and activist will therefore not take care of organizing the event. This candidacy was the subject of a press conference hosted by the Minister of Sports Claude Paulin Danho. The latter, selected in the government of Patrick Achi, would undoubtedly have counted preventing Amichia from acceding to the nomination.
However, it will be President Alassane Ouattara who will have decided. This reinstatement of François Amichia is also curious from another point of view. Either he had not kept his post in the new government so that he obtained this appointment. Either it is a consolation prize. However, the organization of the Africa Cup is a monumental burden. Will Amichia live up to it?