Cameroon has showed interest once again in hosting the African Cup of Nations for the second time since they last hosted in 1972.
After seeing their bid rejected for the 2015 and 2017 editions, Cameroon made another bid for the 2019 edition and will be contesting against Algeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ivory Coast and Zambia.
This was made known after the African Football Confederation (CAF) Executive meeting held recently in South Africa.
This list was different from the list of the host nation bids for both the 2019 and 2021 editions of the Cup of Nations as announced by CAF in November 2013, with Gabon also on the original list, but Cameroon not on it. Among the six official candidates, Algeria, Guinea and Ivory Coast also bid for hosting the 2021 Cup of Nations.
Before bidding solo, Guinea was part of a four-way joint bid with Guinea-Bissau, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Similarly, Zambia was originally part of a joint bid with Malawi and Zimbabwe. Other nations who expressed early interest in bidding were 2013 champions Nigeria, Senegal and Kenya and Uganda in a joint bid.
With the recent building of new stadia across the country, Cameroon?s chances of hosting the tourney are high.? Also, winning the tourney four times, hosting just once since 1972, CAF might give the privilege to Cameroon to host the 2019 edition.
If Cameroon wins the hosting right of 2019, it will be a relief to many Cameroonians who have criticised the country for avoiding to host the highest African sports jamboree.
However, if Cameroon misses this bid, they might be able to bid again only in 2027, since candidates interested for the other editions are already known.
The hosts will be announced after the final vote at the CAF Executive Committee meeting, scheduled for September 2014. The decision was postponed from early 2014 to grant each bidding country adequate time to receive the inspection delegation.
