Cameroon have been stripped of hosting next year's Africa
Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football.
African football's governing body (CAF) says it is because of delays in the
progress of Cameroon's preparation for the tournament, due to start in
June.
Officials made the decision at a meeting on Friday in Accra,
Ghana, that lasted more than 10 hours. CAF president Ahmad Ahmad says it will
work to "determine a new organising country by the end of the
year".
In a statement, CAF said "a number of compliance
conditions have not been met" and it did not want to expose the Africa Cup
of Nations to "any issues that could impact on the success of the most
prestigious African competition".
CAF added postponing the tournament was not possible due to
contractual commitments. The tournament
is set to be the first held in June and July and will be expanded from 16 to 24
teams. Ahmad said last year that
Cameroon still needed "to convince Caf of its ability" to host the
event, with the country playing down fears sanctions would be imposed if
preparations were deemed to be behind schedule.
At the moment, Morocco; having stepped in to hold this year's
African Nations Championship after Kenya were deemed not ready. South Africa
and Egypt are all under consideration as replacement hosts.
