South Africa have confirmed their interest in hosting the 2015 African Nations Cup.
World Cup hosts keen on staging 2015 African Nations Cup
South Africa have confirmed their interest in hosting the 2015 African Nations Cup.
The country, which hosted the World Cup finals in the summer, has already staged the tournament in 1996, when they won the title.
Now, following the success of this year's global spectacle, South Africa are looking to bid for the event once again.
Request
South African Football Association (SAFA) president Kirsten Nematandani told
The Sowetan newspaper: "Yes, we have put in a request to the Confederation of African Football.
"We are still (enjoying) the success of the World Cup and we hope it will be good for us in our bid to host the African Nations Cup."
Egypt, Tunisia, Sudan, Ethiopia, Ghana and Nigeria have all hosted the event more than once.
The next edition in 2012 will be hosted jointly by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea, followed by Libya in 2013, when the tournament is moved for the first time to odd years to avoid a clash with future World Cups.
Nematandani added: "There will be no question of infrastructure because it is here, accommodation is here.
"There will be no question of transport because it is here. World-class stadiums are here too. We have everything.
"We are going to update the government about this development."
When the event was held in the Rainbow Nation in 1996, it was due to unforeseen circumstances after original hosts Kenya failed to meet with the CAF deadlines.
Nematandani feels that factor could work in the country's favour as they look to stage the tournament this time around.
"Effectively, we have never bid to host the tournament and this will be our first time," he continued in
Business Day.
"We believe there is no better way to thank Africa for supporting us during the World Cup than to host the Nations Cup in the same match venues.
"Of course we need the support of our government and we will also be talking to them."
Problem
A potential problem may be which of the 10 World Cup venues to use for the continental showpiece, which requires far less stadiums for the event, with a maximum of four having been used in previous years.
Nematandani said: "That is why I think that we have to give all the cities a chance and that means they (cities) would have to make bid presentations to become hosts.
"We cannot use all the venues and it would be fair for us to do it that way."
