Zambia not bidding for 2017 AfCON

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Chipolopolo soccer fans association
Chipolopolo soccer fans association

ZAMBIA will not bid to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations after Libya withdrew as ongoing fighting in the country delays plans to build new stadiums for the 16-team tournament.
Libya has endured weeks of recent chaos as government struggles to control former rebel factions who helped topple former President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Kalusha Bwalya said in an interview from Johannesburg yesterday that bidding for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations will not be ideal for the country.
Kalusha said it is important that Zambia concentrates on the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations bid.
“It’s not only for FAZ to decide whether to submit a bid or not. We have major stakeholders like Government and in this case we were given a mandate to bid for the 2019 Africa Cup and I think let’s concentrate on that one,” he said.
Kalusha is confident Zambia will be selected to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations because the country submitted a good bid.
“Of course we are competing against other countries but I think we have to concentrate on our bid. We pushed in a good bid for 2019 so we are not going to go for 2017,” he said.
Other countries bidding for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations are Algeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) are inviting new bidders for the tournament.
CAF says that countries wishing to host the tournament have until September 30 to express their interest.
A decision on Libya’s replacement will be made next year.

 

Zambia Daily Mail

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