Cameroon
have been stripped of hosting next year's Africa Cup of Nations by the
Confederation of African Football. African football's governing body
(Caf) says it is because of delays in the progress of Cameroon's
preparation for the tournament, due to start in June. Officials made
the decision at a meeting on Friday in Accra, Ghana, that lasted more
than 10 hours. CAF president Ahmad Ahmad says it will work to "determine
a new organising country by the end of the year". In a statement,
CAF said "a number of compliance conditions have not been met" and it
did not want to expose the Africa Cup of Nations to "any issues that
could impact on the success of the most prestigious African
competition". CAF added postponing the tournament was not possible due
to contractual commitments. The tournament is set to be the first held
in June and July and will be expanded from 16 to 24 teams. Ahmad said
last year that Cameroon still needed "to convince Caf of its ability" to
host the event, with the country playing down fears sanctions would be
imposed if preparations were deemed to be behind schedule. At the
moment, Morocco; having stepped in to hold this year's African Nations
Championship after Kenya were deemed not ready. South Africa and Egypt
are all under consideration as replacement hosts.CAF strips Cameroon of hosting 2019 Africa Cup of Nations over delay in preparation
Cameroon
have been stripped of hosting next year's Africa Cup of Nations by the
Confederation of African Football. African football's governing body
(Caf) says it is because of delays in the progress of Cameroon's
preparation for the tournament, due to start in June. Officials made
the decision at a meeting on Friday in Accra, Ghana, that lasted more
than 10 hours. CAF president Ahmad Ahmad says it will work to "determine
a new organising country by the end of the year". In a statement,
CAF said "a number of compliance conditions have not been met" and it
did not want to expose the Africa Cup of Nations to "any issues that
could impact on the success of the most prestigious African
competition". CAF added postponing the tournament was not possible due
to contractual commitments. The tournament is set to be the first held
in June and July and will be expanded from 16 to 24 teams. Ahmad said
last year that Cameroon still needed "to convince Caf of its ability" to
host the event, with the country playing down fears sanctions would be
imposed if preparations were deemed to be behind schedule. At the
moment, Morocco; having stepped in to hold this year's African Nations
Championship after Kenya were deemed not ready. South Africa and Egypt
are all under consideration as replacement hosts.
