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January 26 – Bidding countries, including England led by former Liverpool striker John Barnes (pictured), are beginning to arrive in Angola for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has controversially been sponsored by Qatar 2022.
The England 2018 delegation to Luanda will be led by bid chief executive, Andy Anson, and will include the director of campaign operations, Jane Bateman, as well as Barnes.
The England 2018 delegation will be present at the CAF Congress as observers as all the bidders as, apart from Qatar, countries are banned from doing a presentation.
Barnes is also due take part in an informal coaching session with youngsters at the Lar Zuzola Orphanage.
Anson said: ”Over the course of the campaign, we have been able to have a number of highly productive meetings with members of CAF and welcome the feedback and assistance they have given England 2018.
“It will be good to spend some more time with the CAF family during our stay in Angola.”
Barnes said: ”It will be a great experience to enjoy the latter stages of the African Cup of Nations.
“I am passionate about coaching football at all levels so I am also very much looking forward to the visit to the Lar Zuzola Orphanage.”
Russia’s delegation will be headed by chief executive Alexey Sorokin and also include Dr Viacheslav
Koloskov, a long-standing member of the FIFA Executive Committee, who has joined the bid as advisor for international relations.
Also attending events in Angola will be Alexander Djordjadze, the bid director for planning and operations, and former FIFA communications director Markus Siegler, who serves as a consultant.
Sorokin said: ”The African Cup of Nations is CAF’s flagship competition and their Congress the most
important institutional event of the confederation.
“For us it is a privilege and honour to observe these events as well as to take the opportunity to further
familiarize the African football family, and in particular their members in the FIFA Executive
Committee, with our bid.”
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