Thu, 15 Jun 2017 09:47:14 +0000
By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
GOVERNMENT says Zambia is capable of hosting the 2021 senior Africa Cup of Nations tournament should she win the bid.
Minister of Sport Moses Mawere told Council of Southern Africa Football Association (COSAFA) president Phillip Chiyangwa that Zambia had the infrastructure and experience to host a tournament of such magnitude.
Chiyangwa, who is also the vice-chairperson of the AfCON organising committee, is on a tour to COSAFA member countries to carry out a review of the capability of the region to host the continental showpiece.
Mawere said Zambia had already made a request to CAF to host the tournament in 2021.
“Your visit is timely as we have already requested CAF president Ahmad Ahmad in a congratulatory letter to consider Zambia as the host nation for the 2021 AfCON. After the successful hosting of the Under-20 AfCON early this year, I feel Zambia is capable of pulling another successful event.
“We have the infrastructure, experience and the people here carry football in their hearts. And looking at 2021, we can have ample time to prepare,” he explained.
The minister further stated that the hosting of the tournament will unify the country as they will host general elections the same year.
Chiyangwa said the new CAF executive wants the biding process to be fairly conducted to ensure all regions are given equal opportunities to host the tournament.
He said the Issa Hayatou days when the West African region always won the bid were gone.
“I am carrying out a review to know the capability of the countries in the COSAFA region to host the AfCON tournament. If Zambia doesn’t get the 2021 AfCON bid, she can host the CECONO tournament which consists of COSAFA, East and North African countries and may include Asian nations,” he said.
Chiyangwa hailed the Junior Chipolopolo for their spirited fight at the U-20 championship, saying the boys made the Southern African region proud.
Meanwhile, Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) president Andrew Kamanga was humbled by Government’s commitment to want Zambia to host the tournament.
Kamanga has also disclosed that FAZ will do a post-mortem on the senior team’s poor performance following the team’s 1-0 loss to Mozambique last Saturday.
“Government has shown commitment to support the sport and I believe the team should reciprocate by scoring victories. It was unfortunate that we lost to Mozambique but we will do a review of the team’s performance,” he said.
