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Tag: 2019 AFCON

  • CAF extends 2019 AFCON kick-off date

    CAF extends 2019 AFCON kick-off date

    The Confederation of Africa Football, CAF, has extended the dates of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, AFOCN, by six days following pleas by North African nations who will be involved in Ramadan fasting.

    CAF stated this in a statement through their official website on Monday.

    The AFCON finals will now begin on 21 June with the final now set for 19 July.

    Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria are among countries to have sent in the request to CAF.

    Meanwhile, CAF had announced that Egypt will be the host nation for the 2019 AFCON finals, taking over from Cameroon.

    It will be the first time there will be 24 teams at the tournament.

  • We’ll give everything to win 2019 AFCON –Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, says the target of the federation is to help the Super Eagles clinch a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Egypt.

    The Confederation of African Football Executive Committee last week voted for Egypt, hosts of the 1959, 1986 and 2006 editions of the competition, to host the first-ever 24-nation finals scheduled for June 15 to July 13, and Pinnick says they will ensure the Eagles get the best preparations ahead of the continent’s top football event in their bid to close the gap between record holders Egypt (seven), Cameroon (five) and Ghana (four).

    “There are so many competitions this year and we intend to, as usual, put our best foot forward in each and every one of them. The target always is to emerge victorious,” Pinnick said in a statement by the NFF.

    “However, the very big one that we do not want to miss is the AFCON title. We have won it three times but we want it for a fourth time, so that we can close the gap with the likes of Egypt and Cameroon.

    “The NFF will work with the technical crew to achieve an excellent preparation for the Eagles ahead of the tournament. Everything legitimate would be done to ensure the Eagles triumph in Egypt. The NFF will equally give the Super Falcons all the support to perform excellently at the World Cup.”

  • CAF names Egypt host of 2019 AFCON

    CAF names Egypt host of 2019 AFCON

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced Egypt as the new hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

    Only Egypt and South Africa indicated interests to host the 2019 finals after the rights were taken away from Cameroon late last year.

    According to CAF, Cameroon was not ready to host a successful and expanded 24-team tournament and that necessitated the search for new hosts.

    Before this latest chance, Egypt hosted Africa’s biggest football tournament a couple of times and the Pharaohs remain the most successful team in AFCON history.

    Egypt and Nigeria will be starting off preparations for the 2019 AFCON with a friendly match between themselves.

  • Egypt bids to host 2019 AFCON

    Egypt bids to host 2019 AFCON

    Egypt on Thursday officially signaled its willingness to take over from Cameroon as hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, a day before the deadline for candidates.

    The Egyptian Football Association, headed by Hany Abu Reida, sent an official letter to the Confederation of African Football, requesting to host the 2019 AFCON.

    Egypt first expressed its interest in hosting the tournament on Wednesday after Morocco – long thought to be interested in standing in for Cameroon – pulled out of contention in a surprise announcement.

    “We’ve sent an official letter to CAF after Morocco’s decision not to bid,” Magdy Abdel Ghany, EFA member, said.

    “Egypt is capable of hosting the African tournament; but sending the request doesn’t mean that we will host the championship,” Abdel Ghany added.

    EFA’s official account on Twitter announced the decision right after Magdy Abdel Ghany’s statement.

    “The Egyptian football federation declares its candidacy to host the 2019 African Nations Cup which is scheduled to take place in June and should have been organised by Cameroon which is not prepared to host it,” it said in a statement on Twitter and Facebook.

    According to Egypt Today sources, Egypt is bidding for the AFCON with six stadiums: Cairo, Air Defense, Borg el-Arab, Suez, Ismailia and Aswan.

    Youth and Sports minister, Ashraf Sobhy, earlier assured that Egypt was ready to host the 2019 AFCON but added that before any decision, EFA would reach an agreement with CAF.

    The Confederation of African Football stripped Cameroon of the tournament last month, citing delays in the construction of stadiums and infrastructure projects and question marks over security.

    The shortlist of countries bidding to host the tournament is expected to be unveiled on December 25.

    The 2019 tournament has been expanded to 24 teams for the first time, up from 16 at the 2017 edition in Gabon.

    Egypt have won the competition a record seven times and hosted AFCON four times before in 1957, 1974, 1986 and 2006.