South Africa named 2013 Nations Cup hosts
Reuters - Wednesday 28 September 2011, 11:08
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa has been
confirmed as hosts of the 2013 African Nations Cup after the
Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed a swap with
war-torn Libya which had originally been chosen to stage the
continental championship.
CAF's Executive Committee, meeting in Cairo on Wednesday,
ratified an agreement between Libya and South Africa to swap the
tournaments previously awarded to them, African football's
governing body said in a statement.
Libya will host the finals in 2017 and South Africa steps in
with just 15 months' notice to take over the 2013 event.
The South African Football Association prematurely broke
news of the agreement last month and was swiftly admonished for
a breach of protocol before the CAF executive could rubber stamp
the deal.
A South African delegation travelled to Cairo at the weekend
to successfully smooth the situation over.
The next Nations Cup finals will be co-hosted by Equatorial
Guinea and Gabon in January and February after which the
tournament switches to every odd year.
Morocco will be the host in 2015.