Hayatou to attend CHAN 2016 draws ceremony

FIFA interim president Issa Hayatou will attend the draws ceremony for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament at Kigali Serena Hotel on Sunday.

Friday, November 13, 2015

FIFA interim president Issa Hayatou will attend the draws ceremony for the 2016 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) finals tournament at Kigali Serena Hotel on Sunday.

Representatives from all qualified nations are heading to Kigali this week to find out their group opponents for CAF’s second biggest international competition, which is reserved for only players featuring in their respective national championships.

It will be the first time Hayatou will be in Rwanda since he was appointed the acting president of FIFA on October 8 following the suspension of Sepp Blatter, who is under investigation over allegations of massive corruption at the football’s world governing body.

The 2016 CHAN Local Organizing Committee (LOC) chairman Vincent Nzamwita, who is also the president of Rwanda Football Association said they expect top football officials across the globe, and as hosts, intensive work is underway to ensure that everything is in place.

"We have been working hard since last month and everything is in order as we head into the draws ceremony. Besides the draws ceremony preparations, we have had a tour across all the hosting venues to access how far they have gone in finalizing work,” Nzamwita said on Thursday.

Hayatou, who also doubles as the president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will be accompanied by a delegation of 21 officials.

The finals tournament will be held from January 16 to February 7, 2016 in three different cities including Kigali, Huye and Gisenyi. The defending champions Libya will not be part of the tournament after failing to qualify.

Full list of countries for CHAN 2016:

Hosts: Rwanda

Central-East Zone: Uganda and Ethiopia

Northern Zone: Morocco and Tunisia

West African Zone: Mali, Guinea, Niger, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Cameroon

Central Zone: Gabon and DR Congo

South African Zone: Zambia, Angola and Zimbabwe