Chief of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Ahmad Ahmad on Thursday extended thanks to President Abdel Fattah El Sisi over the successful organization of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Addressing a press conference held in one of Cairo hotels, Ahmad also praised the great efforts exerted by Hani Abo Reida, president of the AFCON’s organizing committee, hoping that the final will be a good match on Friday.

The tournament is hosted by Egypt from June 21 until July 19 with the participation of 24 teams for the first time, while the AFCON final will be held between Algeria and Senegal on Friday.

The tournament was initially scheduled to be hosted by Cameroon.On 30 November 2018, Cameroon was stripped of hosting the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations due to delays in the delivery of infrastructure, the Boko Haram insurgency and the Anglophone Crisis.

On 8 January 2019, Egypt was chosen by the CAF Executive Committee as the host nation of the competition. The tournament was also moved from the original dates of 15 June – 13 July to 21 June – 19 July due to the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

MENA