Former Super Eagles striker, Julius Efosa Aghahowa has added his voice to support for South Africa getting the nod to host this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Confederation of African Football (CAF) are set to name a new host for AFCON 2019 on Wednesday, after Cameroon were last month stripped of the right, due to poor preparations and security matters.
Heading into this week’s decision, many observers reckon it would be symbolic of Nigeria returning to the venue where they won a third continental title in 2013, and Aghahowa seems to agree with that permutation.
While some might consider it only a coincidence that Nigeria won the cup in The Rainbow Nation, after failing to defend their title their in 1996, following a second conquest of the continent at Tunisia ’94, ‘Aggy’ hinted that it would be symbolic to have AFCON 2019 in SA again.
Having earlier hosted and won in 1996, South Africa hope to get the nod a third time, but seven-time champions, Egypt want to host the biannual tournament for the fifth time after last getting the right in 2006.
Aghahowa admitted he has a soft spot for Nelson Mandela’s country to host the first ever 24-team Africa Cup of Nations, and commended CAF for shifting the competition to now hold in the summer.
The former Shakhtar Donetsk and Aston Villa attacker declared: “To me, it doesn’t really make any difference who will be the host.
“Both South Africa and Egypt are among the countries in Africa with the best facilities but I would prefer South Africa.
“It’s also nice to see the AFCON in June-July because it will correspond with the FIFA calendar where all the leagues will be on break.
“Unlike when clubs and countries always had issues concerning players’ release for the tournament.
“I believe this new development will give the continent a chance to see the best of the best in action.”
