Twenty-nine sports have been confirmed for the African Games, with athletics, badminton, cycling, swimming, table tennis, tennis, triathlon and wrestling to serve as Olympic qualifiers for Paris 2024.

However, the timing of the Games means a number of prominent African competitors will choose not to attend – a problem for those publicising the event, according to Dell’Oca.

“They haven’t been able to market the images of many top African athletes because there has been a great deal of confusion as to who is actually going to be competing,” Dell’Oca said.

Former Kenyan volleyball player Jannet Wanja, who is now the women’s national team trainer, also bemoaned the lack of high-profile stars.

“The games are often held back with the absence of top athletes and stars who could add more value. The top players are often held back from coming. It’s not really helping. We matter too as Africans,” she told BBC Sport Africa.

But, despite the challenges facing the event, she is optimistic of a successful African Games in Ghana.

“Most countries are still affected by the impact of the Covid pandemic and levels of preparations are really below what is expected, but I still hope for a successful African Games,” Wanja added.

Ojong says, whatever the concerns over venues and facilities, all teams will face the same issues.

“If the LOC and international federations validate the venues fit for play, the teams just have to play at the venues the way they are,” he said.

“Everybody is going to play at the same venue, making everybody at the same level of difficulty, and it becomes part of the game.”