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Sports News from Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Source: footballghana.com
2019-02-20
6 sites will be used for CAN 2019
Egypt will use the Cairo International Stadium, a military site on the outskirts of the capital, as well as the controversial Port Said Stadium, one of six sites in five cities for this year's African Cup of Nations.
The sites of the new 24-team tournament were chosen by the Egyptian Football Federation (EFA), which also named Alexandria, Ismailia and Suez.
"We had initially proposed eight venues for the tournament, but after an inspection by a coffee [Confederation of African Football] delegation, we only chose six, "said EFA spokesman Ahmed Megahed.
The Cairo International Stadium has remained largely unused since the Arab Spring and subsequent restrictions on football in Egypt.
But Cairo's iconic venue, which can seat up to 75,000 spectators and create an intimidating atmosphere, is expected to make a comeback, having been the scene of three previous Nations Cup finals in 1974, 1986 and 2006 and many decision makers of the African Champions League.
The Port Said stadium became famous in 2012 when more than 70 people died in Egypt's worst sports disaster after a riot during a league match between hosts Al Masry and Al Ahly.
The stadium was renovated after the disaster and Al Masry was only allowed to return there last year.
The air force stadium in Cairo replaces the Al Salam stadium, which had originally been proposed but which is used to host the matches of two Cairo clubs – Ahly and El Entag Al Harby.
The local league will only finish in the weeks leading up to the Nations Cup bid on June 21 and will not have time to set up the stadium for the tournament, Megahed said. .
"It was then decided to replace it with the air force stadium, also called the June 30 stadium," he said.
The Alexandria stadium and the Ismailia stadium are back after having also served in 2006. The sports stadium of Suez has a capacity of 27 000 seats.
The organizers have not yet specified where the semi-finals and the final will be held. These should be finalized before the draw of April 12 in Cairo.
The African Football Confederation has chosen Egypt in early January to take care of the 2019 finals of Cameroon.
Stadiums of the Africa Cup of Nations 2019:
Cairo International Stadium
Stadium of the Air Force
Port Said Stadium
Stadium of Ismailia
Sport Stadium of Suez
Stadium of Alexandria
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