Lassana Palenfo, President of the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), warned last week it would be "almost impossible" for his continent to host an Olympics and Paralympics.

But Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, the Cameroonian who is President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), has contradicted Palenfo's claim. 

"Personally, I think Africa is ready to host the Olympic Games," Malboum, who is also head of the Cameroon National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSC), told insidethegames here on the eve of the Africa International Sports Convention.

"We have many cities that are capable already, not just in South Africa but also in Egypt, Morocco and Nigeria for example."

South Africa hosted a successful FIFA World Cup in 2010 and Hamad Kalkaba Malboum believes a bid from an African country for the Olympics will receive support internationally ©Getty Images

Malboum believes that it needs a leap of faith from an African country to put itself forward to host the Olympics, just as South Africa did when it was awarded the 2010 FIFA World Cup. 

"The fact is that it is a political decision," he said. 

"If a country decides to host the Olympic Games, for sure that country will have the support of the continent and the international community.

"We need a decision from one Head of State to come out and say it is ready to host.

"It was in the same situation that we staged the World Cup in 2010.

"We want to be part of the world, this is my opinion.

"What President Palenfo said is his opinion, but I'm convinced that Africa can host the Olympic Games."

Durban will gain valuable experience from hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games, which could be used to launch a bid for the Olympics and Paralympics predicts Confederation of African Athletics President Hamad Kalkaba Malboum ©Getty Images