The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has received eight bids for the hosting of the final tournament of the African Nations Cup in 2010 from nine national associations before the closing date that was fixed for October 31 this year.
Angola, Libya, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal and Zimbabwe each put in a bid to host the event, while Equatorial Guinea and Gabon submitted a joint bid.
An evaluation committee will visit all the bidding countries in the spring of 2006 to assess the facilities presented in their bids and to present a report on all the bids to the CAF executive committee.
At its meeting scheduled in May next year, the 13-member CAF executive committee will select by secret ballot the host country or countries.
The bidding countries will be allowed to make a presentation just before the voting starts.
Reacting on the high number of bids, CAF president Issa Hayatou said: ”We are really pleased with the growing interest shown in the number of countries bidding to host the African Nations Cup in 2010.
”It shows that all our national associations are eager to participate in the development of African football and in putting its infrastructures up to international standard.”
The president concluded by wishing all the candidates the best of luck in their endeavours. — Sapa