Hayatou fronts Rwanda’s 2019 CAN bid

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou has added his voice to Rwanda’s bid to host the 2019 African Nations Cup. Hayatou, who has been one of the spectators at the 2011 Caf U-17 Championship which climaxes this afternoon with a final between hosts Rwanda and Burkina Faso, believes the successful tournament coupled with the 2009 Caf U-20 tournament which also went well, have rewarded the trust and confidence he placed in Rwanda.

Saturday, January 22, 2011

THE Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Issa Hayatou has added his voice to Rwanda’s bid to host the 2019 African Nations Cup.

Hayatou, who has been one of the spectators at the 2011 Caf U-17 Championship which climaxes this afternoon with a final between hosts Rwanda and Burkina Faso, believes the successful tournament coupled with the 2009 Caf U-20 tournament which also went well, have rewarded the trust and confidence he placed in Rwanda.

The Cameroonian believes that these events have given Rwanda the experience and expertise to succeed in staging Africa’s premier football competition.

"Rwanda has successfully hosted two continental events which is a good sign that she can host the big tournament,” he said.

"One area they have to improve on now is the number of stadiums. They should construct a fourth stadium and I have no doubt that they can do it in one or two years,” the 64-year-old added.

After the 2012 Nations Cup finals which will be jointly held in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, subsequent editions will be held in odd years; 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019 in that order.

Hayatou is the fifth president of the African body.

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