By ELIAS CHIPEPO –
FOOTBALL Association of Zambia (FAZ) president, Kalusha Bwalya says Zambia will stick to its original bid of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) stripping Libya the rights to host the 2017 AFCON edition.
Kalusha said yesterday that despite the CAF decision on Libya, Zambia will not change its plans of bidding to host the 2019 edition.
Libya have been removed as hosts of the 2017 AFCON finals as ongoing fighting in the country delays plans to build new stadiums for the 16-team tournament. CAF is now inviting new bidders for the tournament.
But Kalusha said it was tough enough competing for the 2019 bid where Zambia faces competition from Algeria, Cameroon, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
“No. It’s tough enough on the 2019, we will stick to the initial bid and with the Government commitment, we will be ready by then,” Kalusha said.
Countries wishing to host the tournament have until September 30 to send in expressions of interest, it added. CAF are due to decide the host countries for the 2019 and 2021 Nations Cup finals at a meeting in Addis Ababa on September 20 while a decision on Libya’s replacement will be made next year.
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