CAN 1972 repeat itself?
History has a way of repeating itself!
“History has a way of repeating itself,” says G.W. Trompf, in his book The Idea of Historical Recurrence in Western Thought.
February 23rd 1972. The African Cup of Nations kicked off with the host nation Cameroon carrying the day in a 2 to 1 victory against the Harambee Stars of Kenya.
50 years later…
January 9th 2022. CAN 2021 kicked off with the host Indomitable lions carrying the day in a 2 to 1 victory against Les Étalons of Burkina Faso.
During the 1972 CAN, Peter Schnittger and his men came third after haven lost in a 1–0 heart attack defeat to the Red Devils of Congo. And who says the Devil is not powerful? After dominating the indomitable lions, the Red Devils went ahead to win their first and only AFCON, snatching a 3–2 victory from the Eagles of Mali. Fifty years later, the Eagles of Mali are still to recover from the slap of the devil.
Fifty years later, will history repeat itself with the Indomitable Lions?
And talking about history. Three months later, Mr Ahidjo, then President of the Federal Republic of Cameroon maliciously abolished the two-state federation plunging the Cameroons into a political crisis. Fifty years later, the country is still to recover from such a shameful blow!
The Devil is a Liar!
Tracing historical patterns since antiquity, G.W. Trompf argues that if history has lessons to impart, they are found par excellence in their recurrence. Three months after CAN 2021, can Mr Biya learn from history in correcting once and for all the 1972 error?
Or will he continue with his déjà vu?
Time will tell.
