The Confederation of African Football (Caf) announced on Friday that Cameroon was stripped of the hosting rights for the African Cup of Nations in 2019, due to security and infrastructure concerns.
The decision was made after an executive committee meeting in the Ghanaian capital Accra, where the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (Awcon) tournament is currently being hosted.
Caf inspectors recently travelled to the country to check security, infrastructure, stadiums and accommodation, and after the evidence was show to the executive committee a decision was taken to strip Cameroon of their hosting rights for Afcon 2019.
Today, the @CAF_Online Executive Committee met in Accra, Ghana and has decided that @FecafootOfficie could not host the 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations – Further information will follow soon at: https://t.co/9LkqZloPx3 pic.twitter.com/hV93vH2R0h
— CAF (@CAF_Online) November 30, 2018
Caf will now launch a new application procedure to designate another host country for the continental showpiece.
South Africa, Morocco and Egypt are all said to be in the running to step in as host of the Afcon, set to be hosted in a few months’ time.
Morocco lost out to a United States/Mexico/Canada bid to host the 2026 World Cup, and would be able to step in with ease, as would 2010 Fifa World Cup hosts South Africa.
Cameroon has been experiencing a tense security situation in areas close to the host cities, with persistent attacks by Boko Haram jihadists in the north and a conflict between the army and separatists in the two English-speaking regions.
The 2019 Afcon finals will also be the biggest in history, with 24 teams set to feature for the very first time. Previous editions allowed only 16 participants.
The tournament will also be played during June and July for the first time.
Photo: Samuel Shivambu/BackpagePix
