This year`s continental showpiece the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) will be held in Egypt, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced.
Egypt has won the bid to host the tournament having defeated South Africa by 16 votes to 1. The two nations expressed interest to replace Cameroon in staging this year’s AFCON episode after the West African nation was stripped of the hosting lights.
CAF made the announcement on Tuesday instead of today as earlier announced. According to Africa`s football governing body, Cameroon was not ready to host the extended competition.
The football showdown has been redesigned in terms of participating teams and setting. Starting from this year, 24 teams will be participating with time of the tournament moved from January-February to June-July.
While Egyptians are still celebrating the victory, their national team talisman Liverpool`s Mohammed Salah has put an icing on the cake having defended the CAF African player of the honour.
He got his accolade the previous night at a glittering ceremony which was held in Dakar, Senegal. He went ahead of his Liverpool teammate, Senegal`s Sadio Mane, and Arsenal`s Piere Emerick Aubameyang from Senegal.
