The 30th African Cup of Nations is a tournament in search of its bearings.
Its finals, which start in mid-January, were to be in Morocco but that country withdrew as hosts and the event has shifted nearly 4,000 kilometres south in the space of five days to Equatorial Guinea.
Several of the teams for the finals remain unidentified.
The decision to move the finals to the small West African country came after urgent talks between Issa Hayatou, the president of African football’s governing body, and the Equatoguinean government.
Hayatou was left angered and desperate when Morocco pulled out, citing concerns about the spread of Ebola, the disease that has put a trio of West African nations – only one of which, Guinea, has a chance of reaching the finals – in a state of emergency.
Morocco’s attitude is regarded elsewhere in the continent with limited sympathy and comprehension, and they face a ban from African events.
Hayatou had insisted the finals would take place on the original dates, January 17 to February 8, in spite of the huge demands that entails for a new host.
He was running out of alternatives when he travelled yesterday to Malabo, the island capital of Equatorial Guinea, who co-hosted, with Gabon, the 2012 edition of the tournament.
The oil-rich nation, whose poor human rights record attracted renewed criticism when it used the 2012 African Cup of Nations to raise its international profile, will appreciate the gratitude of the continent for rescuing its popular biennial festival.
Who is to headline that festival, though, is unclear – it has a host, but it may not have a defending champion.
Nigeria are in danger of dropping out in qualifying and are in Congo-Brazzaville on Saturday needing a win to resurrect a faltering campaign.
Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi, who has twice lost his job then regained it, is in a familiar state of limbo and his brief is to win against Congo, second in Group A to Nigeria’s third. A defeat would all but end Nigerian hopes.
Coaching jobs across African international football are notoriously insecure.
For all the coaches walking a tightrope as the qualifiers reach their conclusion, with the final matches on Wednesday, there are others keen to board the roller-coaster.
Avram Grant is one. The former coach of Israel, Chelsea, Portsmouth and West Ham United will be in Uganda today to watch Ghana try to secure their place in the finals. A win would confirm it and probably hasten Grant’s official appointment as Ghana’s coach.
Grant, 54, has the endorsement of Asamoah Gyan, the Ghana captain, who is injured for Saturday’s game.
“He’s well known on the world scene, so we welcome him,” said the Al Ain striker.
Ghana, should they confirm their place, would be encouraged by the apparent openness of the field.
Nigeria are not the only heavyweights in peril with 2012 champions Zambia in a jostle with Mozambique, who they play on Saturday, to make the finals, while 2010 champions Egypt must make up ground on Senegal, who they host.
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