adminCAMEROON, Cote d’Ivoire and Guinea were named as future hosts of the Africa Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) on Saturday. A vote of the executive committee, meeting in the Ethiopian capital, awarded Cameroon the 2019 finals and Cote d’Ivoire will stage the 2021 edition. In an unscheduled announce-ment Caf also decided to hand Guinea the right to host the 2023 finals. Algeria and Zambia lost out in the bidding process. The Democratic Republic of Congo had withdrawn from the race two months ago.
Cameroon, who will stage the tournament in 2019 previously staged the Nations Cup in 1972. Cameroon’s bid was centred around four venues in Bafoussam, Douala, Garoua and Yaounde.
Cote d’Ivoire, awarded the 2021 edition, are also former hosts, having staged the Cup of Nations in 1984. The Ivorians plan to use five cities — Abidjan, Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and the capital Yamoussoukro. The 2023 hosts were not expected to be named at the executive committee meeting.
A Caf spokesperson later told the BBC that, on the basis of Guinea’s presentation “and commitment”, the committee “decided to exercise its power to make an immediate decision.”
Guinea have never hosted the competition which was first staged 57 years ago in the Sudanese capital Khartoum. Guinea’s bid promised to use Conakry, Kankan, Labe and Nzerekore as venues. Ironically the country is currently banned from hosting any international football by Caf because of the Ebola virus outbreak.
The two nations who miss out are Zambia and Algeria. — SuperSport
Online Reporter