Egypt to Host 2019 African Cup of Nations

In November 2018, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) determined that Cameroon was not suitable to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to delays in preparations, plus civil unrest due to the ongoing nature of the Anglophone crisis.

In November 2018, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) determined that Cameroon was not suitable to host to 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) due to delays in infrastructure, security concerns and civil unrest due to the ongoing nature of the Anglophone crisis. The CAF then requested last-minute bids for the hosting of the competition, and the only two countries to submit bids to host were Egypt and South Africa.

The CAF executive committee came to a decision to award the hosting rights to Egypt, with a dominant vote of 16-1 giving Egypt just six months to get prepared for the competition. The Northern African Media outlets had predicted Egypt to win long before the announcement.

CAF president Ahmad Ahmad spoke that both countries offered similar infrastructure, but the ‘political enthusiasm’ of Egypt was what got them over the line in order to host the competition. The last time Egypt hosted the African Cup of Nations was back in 2006.

With the African Cup of Nations being extended from a 16 nation to a 24 nation competition from 2019 onwards, there will be a swarm of football fans into Egypt while the competition is due to start on the 21st of June, unlike other years when it has started in January.

Egypt Football Association chairman Hani Abo-Rida announced the venues that will host AFCON in 2019, with Port Said Stadium, Suez and Military Stadiums in Suez and El-Salam Stadium, Cairo Stadium, Alexandra stadium and Haras-Elhodoud Stadiums plus Ismailia Stadium all to host matches in the competition. Egyptian star Mohamed Salah will be joined at the competition by other English Premier League players such as his English team-mate Sadio Mane plus fellow Egyptian Mohamed El-neny from Arsenal.

The CAF requested last minute bids for the hosting of the competition, with both Egypt and South Africa submitting bids to host.

The CAF executive committee came to a decision to award the hosting rights to Egypt, with a dominant vote of 16-1 giving Egypt just six months to get prepared for the competition.

CAF president Ahmad Ahmad said that both countries offered similar infrastructure, but the ‘political enthusiasm’ of Egypt was what got them over the line in order to host the competition.

With the African Cup of Nations being extended from a 16 team to a 24 team competition from 2019 onwards, there will be a swarm of football fans into Egypt while the competition is underway between the 15^th June and 13^th July, 2019.

Egypt Football Association chairman Hani Abo-Rida announced the venues that will host AFCON in 2019, with Port Said Stadium, Suez and Military Stadiums in Suez, El-Salam Stadium, Cairo Stadium, Alexandra, Haras-Elhodoud Stadiums plus Ismailia Stadium all to host matches in the competition. Egyptian star Mohamed Salah will be joined at the competition by other English Premier League players such as his Liverpool team-mate and Senegalese star Sadio Mane plus fellow Egyptian Mohamed El-neny from Arsenal.