I have gotten so many mentions asking me to release the second series of my stay in Cameroon but many don’t know that I’m still acclimatizing here. The change of environment is messing me up and Egypt is not as tougher as Cameroon.
High Accommodation
In my first 5 days in Cameroon, I paid N12,500 per night and it was just a cruise then because there is still money on ground and I was one of the first 5 Nigerian journalists that arrived in Garoua, the base of the Super Eagles. After the Egypt game, more Nigerians entered and we had to accommodate them into the apartment, and rent per day was reduced to N10,000 about N9,800 CFA. The house owners are ripping us with their high rent because they know we don’t have a choice. Even checking other places, it’s better to stay here because housing is on the high side.
In Egypt, we paid $100 per day for a 4-bedroom apartment with 8 journalists. Imagine what we are now paying in a village of Garoua. The rent is crazy and the gap between games is even crazier. Imagine if Nigeria win on Sunday, 23rd of January, 2022, our next game which will be the quarter-finals will be on the 29th of January, 2022 and that means we will be free for over 5 days while paying N10,000 per day. It’s extremely crazy and high.
God will help me.
Struggle For Food
People saw my video on Twitter when I was eating a Senegalese Jollof rice. Though, I was enjoying it but the price dey pain my pockets.
A plate of rice cost N2,500 with one Titus fish and no water. That’s a meal. Imagine if you take that twice a day.
To get a Nigerian restaurant has been difficult and we resulted to cook at home and we end up spending over N5,000 per head in 2 days. There are no options, we have to spend over the board to get good foods.
CAF has to take the blame here, why dem bring us come here.
Covid-19 Tests
I want you guys to pray for my nose, I have done 5 Covid-19 tests in 2 weeks from Abuja down to the last match of the Super Eagles against Guinea-Bissau.
Every journalist must undergo a test before gaining entry into the stadium on match days as a clearance slip will be given at the entrance of the media center.
Despite being fully vaccinated plus some foreign journalists with even boosted doses, we can’t still access the stadium without the rapid test. The test expires in 24 hours.
It has been a crazy time here in Cameroon trying to adapt to so many things at once while spending over the board.
To get content over the line, meeting deadlines have been crazy too.
By survey, this is one of the most difficult tournaments to cover because of the pandemic.
Abi make I open GoFundme ??
