Due to the continuing unrest, Libya gave up its shot to host the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, the African U20 Championship, and the 2014 African Nations Championship. Libya and South Africa agreed to a swap in which South Africa will take over as this year’s host, and Libya will host in 2017.
Source: CapeTownMagazine.com, BBC.com
Nonkonyana, former vice president of the South African Football Association (SAFA), was initially appointed chairman for the 2014 CHAN, but was suspended for remarks he made about Bafana Bafana coach, Gordon Igesund. After suggesting that Igesund should step down (or be removed from his position by another means) if South Africa did not reach the CHAN finals, Nonkonyana was suspended by SAFA. Molefi Oliphant, former SAFA president and member of the FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, filled the vacant spot.
Source: Kickoff.com
In an effort to encourage people to buy tickets early (rather than wait until the last minute after the matches and rosters have all been set), the Local Organizing Committee for the tournament decided to offer incentives for those who bought tickets the first day they were available. Invitations to the opening ceremonies in Cape Town and VIP tickets to the first two matches of the tournament are up for grabs.
Source: AllAfrica.com
Despite the success of the Africa Cup of Nations, football organizers were determined to find a way to showcase the talents of African players who decided to play out their careers locally rather than join higher-profile overseas teams. It allows local footballers the platform to play for a global audience, and encourages patronage of African sports overall.
Source: BoxScoreNews.com
Many of the best players on the continent have chosen to play for international teams, particularly in Europe. Stars who are eligible for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, will unfortunately be unable to play in the 2014 African Nations Championship including Gabon’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Ivory Coast’s Yaya Toure, and Nigeria’s John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses.
Source: VanguardNGR.com, BBC.com
Vernon Seymour, vice president of the South Africa Football Association, was recently accused of sexually harassing a female colleague. He has repeatedly denied the allegations and requested numerous postponements of hearings. As the Cape Town competitions manager for the 2014 CHAN, both SAFA and the CAF have affirmed that he will be removed from all of his football duties should he be found guilty.
Source: AfriqueJet.com
Sixteen teams qualify for the African Nations Championship, with just a small handful coming from each region of the continent. Both the North Zone and the West Zone A are allotted two teams each (Libya and Morocco qualified for the North, and Mali and Mauritania for West A), while the other four zones are allotted three teams apiece: Ghana, Nigeria, and Burkina Faso for West Zone B; the Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, and Gabon for the Central Zone; Burundi, Uganda, and Ethiopia for the Central-East Zone; and Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and South Africa for the Southern Zone.
Source: Wikipedia.org
For the first time in the country’s history, Mauritania’s football team will compete in a continental competition after defeating Liberia and Senegal in the qualifiers. In front of a home crowd, the Mourabitounes upset Senegal in February 2013 to secure their spot, sending their fans into a frenzy.
Source: Kickoff.com, CAFOnline.com
The same stadium that served as home base for the 2010 FIFA World Cup will once again be thrust into the spotlight as tournament headquarters for the 2014 African Nations Championship (as well as the home base of Bafana Bafana). The opening and closing ceremonies and matches, as well as a large majority of the tournament’s 32 games, will be played at Cape Town Stadium.
Source: CapeTownMagazine.com
Surprisingly, Tunisia, winner of the 2011 African Nations Championship, fell in the qualifying rounds and will not be making an appearance at this year’s tournament. A surprising 0-1 loss to Morocco in the first round of the qualifiers in July knocked them out of the tournament, leaving the North Zone’s spots to Morocco and Libya.
Source: Wikipedia.org
