Sports events and community development: Analysis of the AFCON 2022 host cities in Cameroon

Abstract

The study presents an analysis of development opportunities presented by the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament that was held in Cameroon from 6 January to 9 February 2022, as perceived by residents of the host cities. A quantitative research paradigm was employed through the use of a structured questionnaire. Data were collected from a total of 1683 respondents from all five host cities during the competition. A key finding from this study is that respondents were quite optimistic about the development opportunities presented by the sports event, particularly with regard to the promotion of their city as an attractive destination. Through the lens of the Social Representation Theory, the influence of the political and cultural backgrounds of some the respondents was also found from the data collected. The case of cultural representation was observed in the case where very few women participated in the Muslim-dominated North Region, while the social tensions in the Southwest region could be said to explain why respondents from Limbe presented the least optimistic views. The practical and policy implications of the study are elaborated on, including the need for government and sports event organisers to include community representatives as part of the planning and delivery committee. The original contribution of this study spans from the analysis of data from five host cities, through to the meaningful application of the SRT, to the unique socio-political context of Cameroon.

Keywords:

• sports events
• community development
• social representation theory
• AFCON
• Cameroon

Public Interest Statement

This paper analyses perceptions of residents of the five AFCON 2022 host cities in Cameroon on the impacts of the sports event on community development. The purpose of the study was to explore for differences on the perceptions of respondents from the cities of Limbe, Garoua, Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua and Yaoundé regarding the potential community development impacts from hosting the sports event. The conclusion from the analysis is that there are statistically significant differences among the participants in the study based on city of residence and age group. The study recommends that in order to use sports events as effective instruments for community development, the government should work closely with communities and other stakeholders.

1. Introduction

Recent studies have alluded to the invaluable contribution that sports events make to the development of host destinations or nations (Musikavanhu et al., 2021; Preuss, 2019; Wang & Jin, 2019). This explains why the bidding process leading up to the selection of the host country or destination for many sports events has become highly competitive (Getz & Page, 2016). Perić (2018) argued that there is a positive relationship between the scope of the sports event (mega, hallmark and so on) and the impacts that the event is likely to generate. Hence, mega sports events, such as the FIFA World Cup competition and the Olympic Games, attract even more intense bidding processes. Furthermore, studies have found that there is synergy between hosting sports events and socio-economic development, particularly in areas such as complementing seasonal jobs, growing tourist arrivals, creating new jobs, generating additional income, and increased tax revenue from the additional sales of goods and services (Duglio & Beltramo, 2017; Li & Jago, 2013; Meurer & Lins, 2018).

Elahi et al. (2021), however, argued that despite the impressive volume of research on the development impacts of sports events, there is a need to examine multiple host cities or destinations to ascertain the spread of impacts and the perceptions of residents regarding the possible benefits of sports events for their communities. Most studies on the impacts of sports events have focused on single destinations or host cities (Preuss, 2019). In addition, T. M. Tichaawa (2017) and Iheanacho et al. (2015) asserted that despite the high enthusiasm surrounding sports events on the African continent, few studies have examined the developmental impacts of sports events on communities in Africa. This study contributed to filling the identified research gaps by analysing what residents of AFCON 2022 host cities in Cameroon perceived of the development impacts of the sport event. The significance of this study is further anchored on the importance of the AFCON tournament as a major socio-economic spinner hosted on a biennial basis by various African countries. Data from five host cities (Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua, Limbe and Yaoundé) were scrutinised for differences in the perceived development impacts of the sport event. The study was guided by the following research questions:

• What are the opportunities for community development that should be considered when hosting sports events such as the AFCON?

• What is the profile of AFCON 2022 host city residents who participated in this study?

• How do the socio-cultural characteristics of the respondents reflect in their perceptions of the development opportunities offered by hosting the AFCON 2022?

2. Contextualising development opportunities in Cameroon

Cameroon prides itself as a haven for natural resources that can be harnessed for development purposes, especially through tourism (Kimbu, 2011; T. M. Tichaawa, 2017). The country’s tourism slogan, “Africa in miniature” or “all of Africa in one country”, is well supported by its geographical position and rich natural and cultural resource base (Kimbu, 2012). Sandwiched between Central and West Africa and the Gulf of Guinea, Cameroon enjoys natural resources from the equatorial rain forest to the east, the grassland ecosystem to the west and northwest, and the ocean economy to the south and southwest (Tata & Lambi, 2014). It therefore comes as no surprise that previous studies described Cameroon as one of the countries with an exceptionally high concentration of endemic species in the world (Dowsett Lemaire & Dowsett, 2000; Riley & Riley, 2005; Stuart et al., 1990). This assertion is supported by the data in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Large concentration of natural species in Cameroon

Species	Quantity	Number endemic
Mammals	409	11
Birds	849	7
Reptiles	143	23
Amphibians	200
Fish	542
Plants	9000	156

Note: Adapted from Dowsett Lemaire and Dowsett (2000).

The cultural landscape in Cameroon is equally diverse. Three major ethnic groups are indigenous to the country, namely Bantu, semi-Bantu and the Sudanese (Kimbu, 2012). These ethnic groups express themselves in 256 languages encapsulated in different cultures showcasing various rhymes, rhythms, dance, dress code, and gastronomy (Kimbu & Tichaawa, 2018). Three religious groups can be found in Cameroon; Muslims to the North and Far North, and Christians dominant in the Centre, South and Western areas and the animists who are spread across various cultural groups (Tagne & Evou, 2020). The country’s two official languages, French and English, are symbols of the country’s colonial legacy left by France and Great Britain.

With regard to socio-economic development, the World Bank notes that the country has the largest economy of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) states, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of US$42 billion (World Bank, 2022). Development opportunities have, however, been thwarted by weak governance indicators, deteriorating human capital and an unfavourable business environment (World Bank, 2022). The business environment has been made worse by the armed conflict that has engulfed the North-West and South-West regions of Cameroon since 2016. It has paralysed the delivery of basic social services and stifled economic growth in six of the country’s ten regions. In its recent assessment of the socio-economic impact of the armed conflict, the World Bank (2022) indicated that more than 3,000 lives have been lost, 170 villages destroyed and 680,000 people displaced. In addition, the country’s GDP has fallen by 4.0% since the onset of the social crisis in 2016 (World Bank, 2021). Nonetheless, Cameroon has gradually recovered. In 2021, economic growth of 3.5% was achieved and is projected to grow by 4.0% in 2022 and 4.4% in 2023, due mainly to improved oil prices and stronger external demand in the secondary and tertiary sectors (World Bank, 2022).

It is against this socio-economic background that Cameroon hosted AFCON 2022, with the expectation that gains from the tournament would not only stimulate further growth in the economy, but equally enhance social cohesion. According to Dibie (2019), hosting AFCON 2022 presented Cameroon with an opportunity to boost infrastructure development (especially in the host cities), galvanise income injection into the local economy through increased expenditure from visiting sports associations and their supporters, and increase investment in the local economy through visitors who might identify business opportunities. The purpose of this study was to explore residents’ perceptions of the socio-economic impacts of AFCON 2022 in their city.

3. Literature review

A number of studies have revealed that, irrespective of the size of a sport event, the potential for both positive and negative impacts is always present (Abdelazim & Ahmed, 2017; Kim & Walker, 2012; Meurer & Lins, 2018; Zhou & Ap, 2009). As Perić (2018) put it, by virtue of the fact that large numbers of people congregate in one place, the rise of impacts is unavoidable. In fact, Duglio and Beltramo (2017) argued that small-scale events that are carefully planned and managed could have more positive impacts and generate less negative effects on local communities. On a different note, Gibson et al. (2012) suggested that as the impacts of mega sports events are more readily visible, community members tend to make judgements based on short-term perceptions. In the view of Müller (2017), there is little doubt that mega sports events receive greater media attention and more contestation to hosts than hallmark or small-scale events.

In assessing the specific development impacts of sports events, Perić (2018) pointed out that there are always significant economic costs involved in hosting sports events. Many countries hosting sports events tend to incur excessive spending, especially on infrastructure development (Gaudette et al., 2017). Kim et al. (2015) argued that spending on infrastructure development is not necessarily a negative impact if it contributes towards the regeneration of the host city. Konstantaki and Wickens (2010) cautioned that if local people end up paying for infrastructure upgrades in the form of higher taxes, then the legacy of the sports event might be compromised. Referring to AFCON 2019 as an example, Dibie (2019) indicated that the host country (Egypt) received revenue of US$ 83 million from the sport event. Elahi et al. (2021) emphasised that besides the benefits to GDP, local communities are particularly interested in the impacts of sports events on job creation, increased investment, improvements in infrastructure, and other income-generating activities. Concerning negative economic implications, communities tend to be concerned about the continuously increasing cost of the event, inflation, and the temporary nature of some jobs created during sports events. Proper planning and efficient delivery of sports events therefore remain key to maximising economic benefits and mitigating the negative impacts (Dawson & Jöns, 2018).

Even though economic effects are often highly profiled in studies regarding the impacts of sports events on local communities (Agha & Taks, 2015; Li & Jago, 2013), it is important to highlight the seriousness of other impacts that affect the social well-being of residents and the community in general (Mirzayeva et al., 2020; Perić, 2018). Chalip (2006) elaborated on the significant social capital that sports events can leverage among community members, especially through the liminoid and communitas effects. Balduck et al. (2011) focused on the pre- and post-event perceptions of the social impacts of the 2007 Tour de France, and revealed that even though residents’ views changed over time, social impacts such as traffic congestion, cultural values and social integration were still important predictors of residents’ willingness to support future sports events.

4. Sports events and community development

Community is a complex concept often defined based on the context and subjective view of the author (Amsden et al., 2011). Magntz (2010) acknowledged the heterogeneous nature of communities while Bauer (2000) referred to different community groups associated with social, cultural, ethnic and professional affiliations. Sills et al. (1980) adopted a goal oriented approach when they defined community groups as people who are bound together by a common purpose of promoting change. From a geo-political perspective, communities have been described as either rural, peri-urban or urban (Cobigo et al., 2016). However, communities are often associated with socio-cultural norms. As Nordberg et al. (2020) purported, a community is a group of people with a shared identity, values, and purpose. In the same vein, Abukari and Mwalyosi (2020) added that community members can share common beliefs, locality, skills and interests. Focusing on community characteristics, Bettez and Hytten (2013) argued that the bond in the community is maintained by the shared values which give the community its collective identity and provide a coordinating mechanism. In the context of this study, communities are geopolitical entities with administrative coordination and within which various socio-cultural affiliations find expression.

Studies on the relationship between sports events and community development have explored various aspects of the two variables such as the contribution of sports events to the realisation of sustainable development goals (Morgan et al., 2021), the role of sports in the empowerment of youth with disabilities (McKinnon et al., 2022) and how sports events contribute to development through fostering peace in post-conflict communities (Lindblom et al., 2022). The scope of community development considered in this study is limited to the cognitive benefits that sports events can stimulate for both local and international investment.

5. Social Representation Theory (SRT)

Although Moscovici is credited with the introduction of Social Representation Theory (SRT) in 1961, the roots of the theory can be traced to Durkheim’s notion of collective representation in 1898 (Abric, 1994; Flament, 1971). Social representation is embedded in the collective cognition or thought system of social groups within a community (Wagner, 1999). According to Rateau et al. (2011), social representations are characteristic of organisations, collective communication, social groups, and social usefulness. Moscovici (1963) explained social representation as collective phenomena belonging to a community which is, in turn, co-created by individuals in their everyday talk and action. These are the daily thought patterns and stock of ideas that emanate from settings such as religious associations, political party affiliations, cultural associations, and so on, and find spontaneous expression in individual articulation (Rateau et al., 2011). Hence, Moscovici (1984, p. 122) asserted that SRT conveys “systems of pre-perceptions, images and values which have their own cultural meaning and persist independently of individual experience”.

Pearce et al. (1996) posited that SRT has frequently been used in social sciences research to explain the transactional perceptions that community members share. Fredline and Faulkner (2000) employed SRT in their research on an Australian motor-racing event to study the impacts of the event on communities, and reported five subgroups in the event perceptions: supporters with mixed perceptions, those who disliked the event, realists, people who liked the event, and respondents who had concerns regarding the event. Another study, with regard to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, revealed that residents anticipated mainly positive development impacts to result from hosting the mega sport event, while cautioning against the expected rise in the prices of goods and services (Al-Emadi et al., 2017).

Considering the cultural diversity, socio-economic challenges and polarised political climate in Cameroon, the SRT is applied to this study to further explore the differences and similarities in the perceptions of various communities on development through sports events. Since the SRT explains how group or community perceptions find expression in personal articulation, the significance of the SRT for this study is in the analysis of participants’ views in the specific context of their city or region of origin. This is particularly important considering that the host cities of AFCON 2022 are spread out across various regions of Cameroon.

6. Methods

6.1. Study sites

Cameroon hosted AFCON 2022, with matches played in the cities of Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua, Limbe and Yaoundé. Participants in this study were randomly selected from these cities, to ensure that they were as close to the action and impacts as possible. Administratively, each of the cities is in a different region of the country, with Limbe in the South-West and the only English-speaking region of Cameroon in the group, Yaoundé – the capital city in the Centre Region, Douala—the economic hub in the Littoral Region, Bafoussam—the capital of the Western Region, and Garoua—the capital of the North Region.

In terms of special features, Garoua is situated in the Muslim-dominated North Region of Cameroon, in close proximity with the Waza National Park, while Bafoussam is in the cultural powerhouse of the industrious Bamileke ethnic group ruled by powerful Fons (chiefs) (Harilal et al., 2018). The city of Limbe is renowned for its black, sandy beaches along the Atlantic coastline, and is the only host city where separatist fighters are engaged in regular attempts to disrupt government activities.

6.2. Study design

This study employed a cross-sectional research design to collect data from residents of the five AFCON 2022 host cities of Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua, Limbe and Yaoundé. Data collection started on 6 January 2022, simultaneously with the beginning of the tournament, and continued until the final game was played on 9 February 2022. A quantitative research approach was followed and a questionnaire was used to collect the data.

6.3. The questionnaire

A total of 44) items were included in the questionnaire and it was divided into two sections, labelled “A” and “B”. The first section (“A”) was made up of questions 1–10 which focused on collecting demographic information such as gender, age group, household income, employment, education, and so on. Questions 11 to 44 collected data on how the respondents perceived hosting the AFCON 2022 tournament would impact on development opportunities in the host cities. Questions in section “B” were developed from an in-depth literature review on the impact of sports events on residents and the host city (Gursoy & Kendall, 2006; Jago et al., 2013; Johnston et al., 2021; Wang & Jin, 2019). The economic variables from these studies were adjusted to suite the Cameroon context.

6.4. Pilot study

To ensure that all items considered in the questionnaire were relevant to the Cameroon situation, and that the use of language was clear of any ambiguity, a pilot study was undertaken in the town of Buea, which is in close proximity to the city of Limbe, in Cameroon. 100 postgraduate students from the University of Buea and the Achas University Institute of Tourism and Business Management were randomly selected to complete the questionnaire, based on their experience of local sports competitions. The outcome of this process was the rephrasing of some questions, and the substitution of some words that did not convey the intended meaning. Once the final version of the questionnaire was adopted, an application for ethical clearance was completed and submitted to the Ethics Committee in the Faculty of Commerce and Administration at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha, East London. The Committee further scrutinised the research process and the questionnaire for any possible ethical risks. Ethical clearance for the study was granted on 2 November 2021.

7. Data collection

In preparation for data collection, 15 postgraduate students, who had previously taken part in research activities, were recruited and trained for fieldwork. To qualify for selection, the students needed to have taken part in research at undergraduate level, and had to be residents of the AFCON 2022 host city where they were going to collect data. Three fieldworkers were allocated to each of the host cities to ensure that data collection was spread as widely as possible across the study site. Data collection started on 6 January 2022, the day of the tournament opening match, and ended on 9 February 2022, when the final match was played. This was to ensure that the respondents were actually “living” the experience of hosting the matches.

During the data collection exercise, residents who were outdoors carrying out their usual daily activities, such as shopping, walking, going to work or relaxing in a liquor outlet or restaurant, were randomly approached and asked if they would be willing to take part in the study. Those who agreed to participate in the study were familiarised with their rights to anonymity, as well as the freedom to opt out of the study at any point without further interrogation. With ethical considerations addressed, the respondents were handed the questionnaires to complete, while the fieldworker waited or attended to other potential respondents. The completed questionnaires were then returned to the fieldworkers, who checked them for completeness as a final step to the process.

8. Data analysis

The data collection exercise yielded a total of 1683 completed, screened and usable questionnaires, distributed as follows: Bafoussam (302), Douala (394), Garoua (161), Limbe (269) and Yaoundé (557). The sample size validity was confirmed using Krejcie and Morgan (1970) sample size table (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Table for determining sample size (Krejcie & Morgan, 1970).

The gathered responses were coded and cleaned for outliers and other errors prior to being exported to SPSS 24.0 for comprehensive analysis. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, the Kruskal-Wallis H Test and the analysis of variance.

9. Descriptive statistics

Considering that this was a cross-sectional study involving the five host cities of AFCON 2022, the demographic data are presented to make key differences among the host cities clearly visible. Data in Table 1 reveals that there were more males (90.7%) among the respondents who took part in the study in Garoua. This can be attributed to the traditional values of the Muslim faith, which places great emphasis on the role of women as custodians of the home and family values (Noormohamed, 2008), thereby restricting their movements outside the home. The rest of the data on gender looks fairly balanced. It is also evident from the data that most of the respondents in this study were youths between the ages of 18 and 35 years.

The socio-economic situation of the respondents was quite varied. Most of the respondents from Limbe (36.1%) and Douala (38.3%) lived on less than 50,000 CFA francs a month while the majority of respondents in Yaoundé (25.3%) and Garoua (26.7%) lived on between 50,000 CFA and 150,000 CFA francs a month, respectively. Results from Bafoussam, however, revealed a major difference. Most of the respondents (32.8%) earned more than 551,000 CFA francs a month. This is an indication that there are more affluent people in the Western Region of the country, where the city of Bafoussam is located. Results on the employment status of the respondents revealed that most of the respondents from Limbe were unemployed (52.8%), followed by Douala (48.5%) and Yaoundé (39.7%). On the other hand, the majority of the respondents from Garoua (58.4%) and Bafoussam (32.1%) indicated that they were self-employed. Finally, data on the level of education of the respondents showed a clustering of data, from all groups, around the Advanced level (University entrance) qualification, displaying relatively high means of 30.1% (Limbe), 24.9% (Douala), 40% (Yaoundé), 27.3% (Garoua) and 22.5% (Bafoussam) respectively.

10. Kruskal-Wallis H Test

A Kruskal-Wallis H Test was performed on the data to compare the perceptions of the respondents on the community development variables (more investment, promote the city, improvements in transportation, more pride in the city, and cultural attractiveness encourages nation building) based on the respondent’s host city. The aim of the analysis was to explore significant differences among the respondents with regards to the host city of origin. Results of the Kruskal-Wallis H Test are presented in Table 2 below.

Table 2. Results of the demographic data from the five AFCON 2022 host cities

Variable	Description	Host city/%
		Limbe	Douala	Yaoundé	Garoua	Bafoussam
Gender	Male	46	46.2	44.5	90.7	54.3
	Female	54	53.8	55.5	9.3	45.7
Age (years)	18–24	49.4	52.8	40.8	13.7	19.9
	25–35	22.3	24.2	23.9	49.7	30.5
	36–45	14.1	13.5	16.0	34.2	27.5
	46–55	8.6	5.1	14.7	1.9	9.9
	56–65	4.5	3.0	3.1	0.6	5.0
	66+	1.1	1.5	1.6	0	7.0
Monthly income (in CFA francs – XAF) $1=XAF600	˂50,000 (˂ $83)	36.1	38.3	16.5	6.8	10.9
	50,000–150,000 ($83–250)	17.1	21.3	25.3	26.7	5.3
	151,000–250,000 ($250–416)	8.2	9.6	24.4	26.1	7.0
	251,000–350,000 ($416–583)	10.8	5.8	12.2	37.3	9.6
	351,000–450,000 ($583–750)	9.7	5.1	12.4	2.5	12.6
	451,000–550,000 ($750–916)	5.9	6.6	4.3	0	21.9
	551,000+	12.3	13.2	4.8	0.6	32.8
Employment status	Unemployed	52.8	48.5	39.7	28.0	27.5
	Government employee	6.3	7.1	21.7	4.3	12.6
	Private sector employee	11.9	24.9	18.9	9.3	27.8
	Self-employed	29.0	19.5	19.7	58.4	32.1
Educational level	Below G.C.E Ordinary level certificate	31.2	26.4	4.7	11.8	9.6
	Completed Ordinary level certificate	10.0	26.1	12.0	16.2	11.4
	Advanced level (University entrance)	30.1	24.9	40.0	27.3	22.5
	Bachelor’s degree	18.6	15.8	31.4	40.4	35.2
	Master’s degree	8.2	5.3	9.9	4.3	11.6
	Doctoral degree	1.9	1.5	2.0	0	9.7

Note: Created from study by Author (2023).

Results of the Kruskal-Wallis H Test in Table 3 revealed statistically significant differences in community development attributes across all five host cities. The host city of Garoua recorded the highest mean scores in all six development attributes. On the other hand, the lowest mean scores were recorded in two host cities, Limbe (investment − 649.51, greater cultural awareness − 597.99, nation building − 609, 51) and Douala (promotion of the city − 615.29, improvements in transportation − 590.52, more pride in the community − 650.57).

Table 3. Kruskal-Wallis H Test for respondents based on AFCON 2022 host city

Rank
Development variable	City	N	Mean rank	df	Asymp. Sig.	Kruskal-Wallis H
More investment	Bafoussam	299	958.42	4	˂.001	248.966
	Douala	380	662.79
	Garoua	150	1180.47
	Limbe	277	649.51
	Yaoundé	577	904.11
	Total	1683
Promote city as an attractive destination	Bafoussam	299	893.01	4	˂.001	236.724
	Douala	380	615.29
	Garoua	150	1232.00
	Limbe	277	777.89
	Yaoundé	577	894.27
	Total	1683
Improvement of transport infrastructure	Bafoussam	299	945.66	4	˂.001	308.004
	Douala	380	590.52
	Garoua	150	1284.83
	Limbe	277	709.30
	Yaoundé	577	902.49
	Total	1683
Increase sense of pride in the community	Bafoussam	299	989.91	4	˂.001	266.228
	Douala	380	650.57
	Garoua	150	1303.48
	Limbe	277	734.50
	Yaoundé	577	823.07
	Total	1683
Improve cultural attractiveness	Bafoussam	299	1099.82	4	˂.001	437.527
	Douala	380	649.51
	Garoua	150	1378.62
	Limbe	277	597.99
	Yaoundé	577	812.81
	Total	1683
Greater nation building	Bafoussam	299	1078.76	4	˂.001	338.233
	Douala	380	672.22
	Garoua	150	1286.62
	Limbe	277	609.51
	Yaoundé	577	827.15
	Total	1683

Note: Created from study by Author (2023).

11. Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

Following the Kruskal-Wallis H Test, it was deemed important to determine any statistically significant differences among participants in the age groups captured in the study. This analysis was thought to further enrich the study by revealing if some age groups were more enthusiastic about the developmental prospects of the AFCON 2022 and if greater community awareness was necessary among specific age groups. Participants were divided into different age groups coded as follows: N1 = 18–24 years, N2 = 25–35 years, N3 = 36–45 years, N4 = 46–55 years, N5 = 56–65 years, N6 = 65+. Results of ANOVA for the age groups are presented in Table 4 below.

Table 4. ANOVA on perceptions of development potential of AFCON 2022 according to age groups

Development variable	Age group in years
	18–24 N1=650		25–35 N2=460		36–45 N3=319		46–55 N4=158		56–65 N5=57		65+ N6=39		P-value	t
	Mean	Std Dev	Mean	Std Dev	Mean	Std Dev	Mean	Std Dev	Mean	Std Dev	Mean	Std Dev
Nation building	3.76	1.12	4.00	1.18	4.08	1.11	3.91	.95	3.72	1.46	4.03	1.14	.001	.01
Investment	4.23	.99	4.43	.98	4.53	.81	4.48	.75	4.26	1.14	4.49	.85	.001	.02
Promote the city	4.13	.98	4.38	.89	4.47	.84	4.47	.71	4.25	1.04	4.23	.96	.001	.03
Improve transport	3.92	1.12	4.18	1.03	4.31	.94	4.19	.92	3.72	1.29	3.82	1.28	.001	.03
Pride in the community	3.86	1.06	4.16	.99	4.28	.91	3.96	1.02	4.21	1.08	4.00	1.05	.001	.03
Cultural attractiveness	3.71	1.04	4.05	1.02	4.09	1.0	3.75	1.02	3.84	1.07	3.92	1.04	.001	.03
Total	3.94	1.05	4.2	.84	4.29	.81	4.13	.89	4.00	1.18	4.08	1.05	.001	.03

Created from study by Author (2023).

Results of the ANOVA reveal statistically significant differences in the way respondents in different age groups perceive the community development potential of hosting the AFCON 2022. The statistical significance is evident in the P-values which are all below the .05 threshold (Pallant, 2013, p. 262). To understand the significance of the differences, the effect sizes (t) were calculated using the formula:

$\mathrm{Eta}\mathrm{squared}=\frac{\mathrm{Sum}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{squares}\mathrm{between}\mathrm{groups}}{\mathrm{Total}\mathrm{sum}\mathrm{of}\mathrm{squares}}$

The results indicate minimal impact of the effect sizes as the values were all below .06 (Cohen, 1988).

12. Discussion

The purpose of this study was to analyse residents’ perceptions of the development opportunities presented to host cities by sports events such as AFCON 2022. It was done in Limbe, Douala, Bafoussam, Yaoundé and Garoua which served as host cities of AFCON 2022.

The demographic profiles of the participants in this study revealed a fairly even distribution in the number of females and males in four cities (Limbe, Douala, Yaoundé and Bafoussam), while an overwhelming majority (90.7%) of the respondents in Garoua were male. This disparity can be attributed to the cultural and religious differences between the regions in which the cities are located. Christianity is the dominant belief system in the four cities and the Islamic faith is the dominant belief system in the northern region where Garoua is located. This finding on the effect of religious practice on sports is aligns with a previous study by Noormohamed (2008) which found that due to the special status accorded to women as the cornerstone of the family and society, they tend to spend more time at home and do not frequent public spaces. However, Chanda and Sheokand (2021), in their study on the intersection of Islam and modern sports law, argued that the role of women in the Muslim religion is changing and so is their participation in outdoor activities, including sports.

It is evident from the Kruskal-Wallis H Test score of 437.52 that the respondents in this study envisaged cultural attractiveness to be greatly enhanced by the AFCON 2022 sports event. A study by Pratt et al. (2021) on sports and subjective wellbeing reached a similar conclusion that there is a positive correlation between cultural attractiveness and sports events.

The findings of this study revealed the high expectations of the respondents with regards to the hosting of AFCON 2022 for greater nation building (338.233). This resonates with the desire to resolve the social tensions in Cameroon (World Bank, 2022) and the perceptions that hosting the AFCON would be instrumental in community development. It also reflects and affirms what SRT holds, which is that community phenomena manifest in individual articulations and actions (Moscovici, 1963).

Further reflection on the results of the ANOVA on the perceptions of different age groups regarding development opportunities offered by Cameroon hosting the AFCON 2022 is necessitated by the statistically significant differences observed between the age groups. This means that age manifested itself as an important factor in the perceptions of the respondents, with highest mean scores recorded within the age groups of 36 years to 45 years (4.29) and 25 years to 35 years (4.2) and the lowest scores found in the 18 years to 24 years (3.94) age group. This finding differs from those reached in some studies (Gibson et al., 2012; Lovegrove & Brown, 2016) that found no statistically significant differences between age groups with regards to perceptions on community development. However, Abukari and Mwalyosi’s (2020) study on local community perceptions on the impacts of protected areas on livelihoods and community development also found age to be an important differentiating factor in participants views.

The general optimism expressed by respondents across all five host cities of AFCON 2022 regarding the development opportunities presented by hosting sports events such as AFCON, has been shared in previous studies (Dawson & Jöns, 2018; Elahi et al., 2021; Fairley et al., 2016; Gibson et al., 2012; Gursoy et al., 2017). Nonetheless, Taks et al. (2011) and Raoul and Zenabou (2020) pointed out that the economic benefits of sports events are often based on incorrect assumptions and miscalculations.

This study showed that there is significant enthusiasm among the respondents regarding the potential for AFCON 2022 to promote their cities as attractive destinations and equally attract investment. Siemińska (2020) purported that residents are usually in a jubilant mood when they see investment, especially in infrastructure such as stadia, roads, water, electricity, and more, taking place in their community. In addition to making the city look more attractive, investments in infrastructure are labour intensive; hence, many people obtain jobs, and small businesses spring up almost in an instant (Misener & Schulenkorf, 2016).

13. Implications

A number of practical and policy implications can be drawn from this study.

The first implication of practical relevance is that while there is strong potential for sports events, such as the AFCON, to stimulate development in the host communities, government, and other organisers, need to harness the efforts of the community to realise meaningful development. This is evident from the findings that despite positive expression from the residents on possible investment opportunities from the sports event, there is no indication of government coordination in order to realise the expected benefits.

Secondly, evidence from this study suggests that SRT holds true in the context of Cameroon, particularly in the Limbe and Garoua communities. Demographic data presented in this study indicates that more than 90% of the respondents from Garoua were males, clearly pointing to the Muslim culture where women maintain a significantly lower social profile than men (Iheanacho et al., 2015). In the case of Limbe, the socio-political tensions in the region seemed to have filtered through the mainly average responses from the participants.

Thirdly, development efforts in communities in Cameroon should begin with uniting the population. Findings from cities such as Limbe and Douala suggest that the respondents have a low sense of “feel good” about the community and cultural resources. Development requires collective enterprise; therefore, a sense of belonging and community enterprise is essential.

From a policy perspective, findings from the Garoua community point to the need to develop policies that seek to empower women and encourage them to participate in mainstream economic activities. Without appropriate policies, this significant proportion of the workforce might be deprived of the opportunity to contribute towards development.

Government needs to define the role of communities when it organises important sports events such as AFCON 2022. Community representatives should form part of the organising committee, especially when the event is taking place within their immediate environment. This should be standard practice, with clear policy directives. Considering that most impacts of sports events, particularly environmental and social impacts, take place within the local community, it is appropriate and fair to have the community adequately represented from the planning phase to the execution of legacy projects.

14. Originality and unique contribution of the study

This study focused on exploring the development opportunities presented by the AFCON 2022 sport event, as perceived by respondents in the five host cities of Limbe, Bafoussam, Douala, Yaoundé and Garoua. While most studies on the impacts of sports events on communities usually focus on single cities or communities, this study analysed and compared data from all five cities. The SRT was instrumental in reaching the conclusion that multicultural countries, such as Cameroon, require a multidimensional and inclusive approach when organising important sports events such as the AFCON. Perhaps, one of the surprising outcomes from this study came from the diminished sense of enthusiasm in cultural goods among respondents from Limbe, despite the general acknowledgement acclamation of the city as the cultural capital of the Southwest region of Cameroon (T. Tichaawa et al., 2022).

14. Limitations of the study and recommendations for future research

It is important to mention that despite the validation of the sample size of this study following the sample size table by Krejcie and Morgan (1970), the findings of this study do not represent the views of the entire population of the cities concerned. This limitation should be considered when making inferences from the findings of this study. Another limitation worth mentioning is that the interpretation of community development is restricted to the six development variables retained from literature reviewed in this study.

This study recommends that further research be conducted on residents’ perceptions of the impacts of the AFCON on community development with a focus on different communities and using a larger sample. This will be helpful in testing the findings of this study and making recommendations on the generalisability of its conclusions.

Acknowledgments

The author acknowledges the constructive comments made by the editor and reviewers towards the improvement of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Paul Nkemngu Acha-Anyi

Paul Nkemngu Acha-Anyi My research focus is on the impact of tourism on communities. My research aims to explore ways of developing tourism in a sustainable manner by ensuring that communities, businesses and other stakeholders benefit from tourism. This has been the focus of my research papers, published books and conference presentations for the past fifteen years. The present paper examines the perceptions of residents on the impacts of hosting the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) community development. The study compares perceptions of participants from the five AFCON 2022 host cities in Cameroon and concludes that there are statistically significant differences among the respondents based on city of residents and age group. Policy and practical implications are also discussed.