[ 2011-08-28 ]

SA 'will host' 2013 Nations Cup
South Africa says it will host the Africa Cup of
Nations in 2013 instead of Libya.

The two countries have agreed to swap the rights
to host the event, so Libya will take on the
tournament in 2017.

The deal was announced by South Africa's football
association (Safa) and is subject to the
Confederation of African Football's (Caf)
approval.

Libya's hosting of the 2013 tournament had been in
doubt for some time because of the continuing
violence there.

"Safa and the Football Federation of Libya have
signed an agreement with regards the hosting of
the 2013 and 2017 Africa Cup of Nations
tournaments," Safa said in a statement.

"Libya will host the 2017 Afcon [Nations Cup]
which had been awarded to South Africa, while Safa
will take over the hosting of the 2013 Afcon
tournament as well as the 2014 African Nations
Championship [the tournament for locally-based
players], which was supposed to be played in
Libya.

"The agreement comes following the political
upheaval in Libya but is subject to ratification
by Caf at its next Executive Committee meeting."

Caf's next Executive Committee meeting is
scheduled for 28 September in Cairo.

"It is only the executive committee that has the
mandate to give the hosting rights to a country,"
Caf's Director of Communications Suleiman Habuba
told the BBC on Thursday.

One issue for Caf to deal with is its agreement,
back in 2006, that Nigeria would have the right to
step in if any of the Nations Cup hosts named that
year were unable to fulfil their commitments.

However, the Nigeria Football Federation appears
to have no political will to host the 2013
finals.

"The board of the Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) wish South Africa all the best," NFF
spokesman Ademola Olajire told BBC Sport.

"The decision between both countries must be
applauded and respected by all. We wish them all
the best and will focus solemnly on qualifying for
the 2012 African Cup of Nations."

South Africa took over the hosting of the African
Under-20 tournament from Libya earlier this year.

Source - BBC

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