Government support was decisive for Egypt during AFCON host selection, Bouchamaoui

CAIRO - 8 January 2018: CAF Executive Committee announced on Tuesday that Egypt will host the 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) matches.

Egypt won the rights to host the tournament after being selected over South Africa.

CAF Executive Committee Tunisian member, Tarek Bouchamaoui, spoke to press after the announcement, saying " We hired an agency to discuss the Egyptian and South Africa bids. Egypt had a decisive point which is the Government support."

An Egyptian delegation led by Football Federation President Hany Abo Rida arrived on Monday in Dakar, Senegal capital, to attend CAF Executive Committee meeting.

The Egyptian delegation includes Presentation Sports CEO, Mohamed Kamel, and Football Federation board members, Ahmed Megahed, Karam Kordy and Magdy Abel Ghany.

Bouchamaoui added" The South African bid was so close to the Egyptian one but the Egyptian government support to the Egyptian bid was fundamental."

2019 African Cup of nations was initially scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon. However, Cameroon was stripped of hosting the tournament for serious delays in preparations.

Egypt hosted four African Cup of nations tournaments in 1959, 1974, 1986 and 2006 and they failed to achieve the title only in 1974.