By Daily Sports on December 14, 2018

South Africa, Egypt and Congo Brazzaville are bidding to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the continental football showpiece.

“We have submitted our bid documents,” South African Football Association spokesman Dominic Chimhavi said in reply to emailed questions from AFP.

“(It) is now up to CAF to decide (who hosts the 2019 Cup of Nations).”

Earlier Thursday, Egypt said it was willing to stage the biennial African football showpiece after Morocco surprisingly announced it would not bid.

Morocco had been strong a media favourite to host the tournament for the first time since 1988.

Last week, Cameroon was stripped of the right to stage the tournament with African football body CAF citing behind-schedule preparations and security concerns.

Egypt, which had hosted the tournament four times, announced its interest after Morocco opted out.

“Egypt is able to organise the competition and we would be proud to do so,” said Egyptian sports minister Ashraf Sobhi.

“The Egyptian people are always ready for such things, we have infrastructure of the highest level.”

Congo Brazzaville has also emerged as a surprise candidate, while CAF has offered the 2021 finals to Cameroon despite having previously awarded the tournament to the Ivory Coast.

Cameroon had originally beaten bids from Algeria and the Ivory Coast to win the right to host the tournament but saw it taken away by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) last month due to delays in preparation.

The 2019 Cup of Nations will be the first to feature 24 teams since CAF expanded the format from 16 countries.

CAF will decide on the host by December 31. (NAN)

•Photo shows CAF Executive Committee

Source Daily Sports

Posted December 14, 2018

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