Pinnick speaks on new host of AFCON 2019

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the 1st Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Amaju Pinnick, has promised that the African football ruling body, will vote for the best–qualified candidate between Egypt and South Africa, to host this year’s Africa Cup of Nations finals.

Pinnick, who is also President of the AFCON Organizing Committee, told thenff.com that his committee has analysed the strengths of the two bidding nations and would advise CAF on the better option, ahead of Wednesday’s meeting of the CAF Executive Committee.

“The AFCON committee of which I am the chairman has done a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) on both bidding countries and we will meet on the sideline of the CAF Football Awards to finally decide on the best option and present same to CAF before Wednesday’s meeting.

“The interest of African football is paramount in this. It is important that we get this right so that the selected country can quickly put structures in place for the championship which is only about five months away,” Pinnick said.

CAF had in November 2018 stripped designated host, Cameroon, of the right to host the 2019 AFCON as a result of delays in construction and security threats.

This year’s edition will be the first to entertain 24 teams.