Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire (PANA) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has concluded an inspection of facilities in Côte d’Ivoire, the second such tour of bidding nations, for the 2019 and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
The inspection was carried out by CAF’s special commission set up to evaluate candidate nations, according to a CAF statement.
The committee rounded off its trip to the West African state with a visit to the presidential palace where they were received by Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara who expressed optimism about the Ivorian bid.
President Ouattara reaffirmed the commitment of the Ivorian Government to the Africa Cup bid.
The Committee, made up of two members of the CAF executive Committee, Amadou Diakite and Adoum Djibrin, and FIFA Expert Walter Gagg, CAF Expert Paul Bassey and CAF Africa Cup Tournaments Director Amr Fahmy, arrived in Abidjan on 12 April and visited the four cities selected for the organization of the CAN — Bouake, Korhogo, San Pedro and Abidjan.
Yamoussoukro, an alternative host city, was also visited.
They also held several meetings with various authorities and the country’s minister of sports, Mr. Alain Lobognon, and visited hotels, training grounds and medical centres.
Speaking after the inspection tour, Mr. Diakite thanked President Ouatarra for the reception and his government’s commitment to football.
The CAF Inspection Committee had earlier visited Guinea from 7 to 12 April.
The delegation, constituted by the CAF Executive Committee, will over the coming months make similar visits to Algeria, Cameroon, Zambia and DR Congo, in that order.
The Committee will upon completion of all inspections of bidding nations present its report to CAF.
The CAF Executive Committee meeting in September 2014 will decide on the host nations for the 2019 and 2021 Nations Cup.
