JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – South Africa will replace conflict-hit Libya as
hosts of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the organisers said in a
statement on Tuesday.
Libya, where fighting continues between pro and anti-Moamer Kadhafi
forces for control of several cites, take over the 2017 tournament from
original hosts South Africa.
A surprisingly early announcement of the swap, which was not expected
before Wednesday, means South Africa will stand in for Libya a second
time having held the African youth championship last April.
The decision brought relief to South African officials, who angered
the Confederation of African Football (CAF) this month by making public
details of the swap agreement before the continental body had discussed
it.
Algeria and Nigeria were other contenders for the 2013 Cup of Nations
with the West Africans claiming they should be awarded the event having
been chosen as stand-by hosts five years ago in case Libya withdrew.
The swap deal was agreed after the first half of a two-day CAF
executive committee meeting chaired by president Issa Hayatou from
Cameroon at its headquarters in a Cairo suburb.
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