Pretoria - Cabinet has given the nod to South Africa hosting the 2013 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the 2014 African Nations Championships (CHAN).
"Cabinet approved that South Africa hosts the 2013 African Cup of Nations and the 2014 African Nations Champions," Minister in the Presidency, Collins Chabane announced during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Pretoria on Friday.
An Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) comprising Sports and Recreation, Home Affairs, Defence and Military Veterans, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, Finance, International Relations and Cooperation, Trade and Industry, Transport, Tourism, Public Works, Police, Health, State Security, Social Development and Communications will deal with among others the tournament preparations.
Cabinet further approved the host cities of the 2013 AFCON and those of 2014 African Nations Championships.
The 2013 Afcon will begin on 19 January and end on 10 February, with 16 teams set to participate.
South Africa will host the two continental tournaments that were initially scheduled to be played in Libya, but could not be played in that country which is currently ravaged by civil war.
The South African Football Association (Safa) and the Football Federation of Libya signed an agreement regarding the hosting of the 2013 and the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) tournaments.
In terms of the agreement, Libya will host the 2017 Afcon, which had been awarded to South Africa, while Safa will take over the hosting of the 2013 CHAN as well as the 2014 Afcon, which was meant to be played in Libya.
The Official Draw for the AFCON 2013 finals will take place on 26 October.
