Egypt will host the 2019 African Nations Cup, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), has confirmed after a meeting of the body’s executive committee in Dakar on Tuesday.
The North African country will stage the expanded 24-team event, which is scheduled to kick off on June 15. Initial hosts, Cameroon were stripped off the hosting right last month, over concerns on slow pace of preparations and security concerns.
Egypt and South Africa were the only two countries to put forward their bids to replace Cameroon.
The votes were overwhelming for Egypt, who had 16, as against South Africa’s one, with one abstention.
It will be the first time 24 teams will feature at the continent’s football showpiece.
According to reports, Egypt have extensive football facilities, although in recent years, attendances at local matches have been restricted because of security concerns, following the Arab Spring revolution and Tahrir Square demonstrations in 2011.
Cameroon are the defending Champions, having beaten Egypt — the tournament’s most successful country — in the 2017 final.
It will also be the first time the competition is played in June and July, having previously been held in January and February. F.A
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