By David Gold
April 13 – The draw for the Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa next year will take place on October 26, it has been revealed by Confederation of African Football (CAF) secretary general Hicham El Amrani.
El Amrani was speaking to CAF’s website, and confirmed the date for the draw of the 2013 tournament, which will run from January 19 to February 10.
It is due to take place in Johannesburg at the Convention Centre in Sandton.
El Amrani also confirmed that five venues would be the maximum number of venues selected for the tournament, rather than the seven organisers had originally hoped to use.
Eight cities have bid to host matches next summer, with all the World Cup host cities putting themselves forward, apart from Pretoria.
South Africa had hoped to use as many of these cities and their stadiums as possible, but El Amrani said that five would be the most they would allow.
“We do have a minimum of four venues’ policy for [the] finals,” he confirmed.
“We believe five venues will be selected, not more, since too many venues will also present logistical and financial constraints.
“We are looking forward to confirmation from the Local Organising Committee on that aspect.”
El Amrani (pictured) also suggested that the other host venues which are not selected would have the chance to stage games during the 2014 African Nations Championships, also being held in South Africa, a similar tournament but which is exclusively for players plying their trade for clubs in Africa.
The announcement of the host cities will be made next week, having been delayed as some bidding cities need more time to finalise agreements with the Organising Committee, as reported by insideworldfootball earlier this week.
CAF also recently signed an organising association agreement with South Africa, and El Amrani wants focus to be put on tickets after the events of this year’s African Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, where they struggled to sell out some games.
“[Ticketing programmes are] one of the priorities we set when we met in South Africa…to allow African football fans to celebrate this competition, whether from South Africa or abroad,” he said.
“It is also important to establish the right ticketing prices, packages and ticketing distribution system, and position the event as another opportunity for football lovers to be entertained.”
The CAF secretary general said that the sale of tickets would be divided into four, with each aimed at different audiences.
Qualifying for next year’s African Cup of Nations began in February and runs until September.
Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734837757labto1734837757ofdlr1734837757owedi1734837757sni@d1734837757log.d1734837757ivad1734837757
Related stories
April 2012: Exclusive – South African Sports Minister says claims of Africa Cup chaos are unfounded
March 2012: Eight South African cities bid for 2013 African Nations Cup matches
March 2012: Full stadiums is top priority, says 2013 African Nations Cup boss
January 2012: SAFA President heads 2013 Africa Cup of Nations Organising Committee
January 2012: South African World Cup cities bidding to be involved in 2013 African Nations Cup