AFCON Egypt 2019: "We are working round the clock to be ready on 21/06/2019" (Hany Abo Rida)

"Preparations are going well as planned, we are working round the clock to be ready for the opening match on 21/06/2019," said Hany Abo Rida (EGY), chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Total Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2019, 100 days ahead of the opening match of the competition, on 13/03/2019.

"Preparations are far advanced especially for the official draw for the final tournament scheduled for 12/04/2019 in Cairo (EGY)," added Hany Abo Rida, who is also president of the Egyptian Football Association.

The Egyptian Football Association replaced the Cameroonian Football Federation to hold the AFCON 2019, following a vote at the CAF executive committee meeting in Dakar (Senegal) on 08/01/2019. CAF based its decision on significant delays in the work as well as safety issues.

• AFCON 2019 will be played for the first time in the summer, from 21/06 to 19/07/2019.
• It will be the the first edition of the competition to feature 24 teams (instead of 16).
• It will take place at five sites: Cairo (two stadiums), Alexandria, Ismailia, Suez and Port Said.