Hunt for Afcon hosts

The identity of the country that will replace Cameroon as hosts of the 2019 African Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals will be known on 9 January, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has said.The competition is slated for 15 June to 13 July 2019, as per the decision of the CAF executive committee on 20 July 2017 to move the tournament from January/February to June/July for the first timeThe continental football body said all member associations have been notified and interested countries have until Friday to submit their bids.The shortlisted candidates, who must have expressed interest, will be revealed on Saturday, before requests for additional information and field visits will be carried out ahead of a final decision that will be revealed at the CAF gala awards in Dakar in January.CAF has confirmed to AFP that South Africa is among the potential hosts.South Africa could step in as hosts, according to CAF president Ahmad Ahmad.CAF has been studying alternative solutions for the staging of the June 15 to July 13 event after Cameroon was withdrawn as hosts due to delays with preparations and security concerns.A final decision on who will host next summer's football showpiece will be announced on 9 January, Ahmad said.He added that for now “two or three” candidates had shown an interest in taking over from Cameroon, the Madagascan naming South Africa as having filed a letter of intent.“According to my information, two or three letters of intent have arrived,” the CAF president told AFP.“South Africa is one of the countries to have sent a letter of intention. Two or three countries have made serious inquiries.”The decision to ditch Cameroon for 2019 has created a confusing merry-go-round. Ahmad said in an interview last week the west African country will now host the 2021 edition, originally given to Ivory Coast, who will now host the tournament in 2023.The hosts for 2019, meanwhile, will be chosen from a short-list whose submission deadline is 14 December.“Everything will be finalised by 25 December to create a short-list of candidates who have been evaluated and noted,” Ahmad said.“The executive committee (of CAF) will meet in Dakar on 9 January, when we will make a decision.”In 2014, then CAF president Issa Hayatou of Cameroon announced the hosts of three successive editions of the biennial tournament: Cameroon (2019), Ivory Coast (2021) and Guinea (2023).Amid confusion over how next month's decision could affect who will host subsequent editions, Ahmad told African television channel Media TV last week that Cameroon would host the tournament in 2021, while Ivory Coast would organise the 2023 edition.“In 2021 they will be ready: we will organise Afcon in Cameroon. And in 2023 it will be held in Ivory Coast.“That was the decision taken by the executive committee,” he added.Congo-Brazzaville last week was named by CAF as a serious candidate to host the 2019 event, before the country's sports minister played down those reports.Ahmad would not confirm nor deny the country's interest.“I can't comment on a country's internal problems,” he said.“You would have to ask their federation or government.”Warriors still in the runningThe Brave Warriors, who are in Group K, missed a golden opportunity to book their place on 17 November, when they played to a thrilling goalless draw against Guinea-Bissau.As it stands, both Guinea-Bissau and Namibia are now on eight points each, with the Brave Warriors' group rivals having the advantage after beating them 1-0 in their first encounter.Extra pressure came in the form of a Mozambique victory over the Copper Bullets of Zambia on 18 November, who remain on four points, and are incapable of advancing.Mozambique, now on seven points, are now in pole position to remove either Guinea-Bissau or Namibia from the finals roster.This means that Namibia need to win their last match against Zambia in March 2019 in order to secure their qualification. Namibia will also make it through if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique lose to Guinea-Bissau in their final qualifier.Also, they will have a chance to advance if they lose to Zambia and Mozambique draw against Guinea-Bissau, as they have better head-to-head record against Mozambique, by virtue of beating them home and away. -Additional reporting by AFP STAFF REPORTER

Hunt for Afcon hosts

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

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Hunt for Afcon hosts

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Namibian Sun 2025-07-17

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