DAKAR: The Confederation of African Football has chosen Egypt over South Africa to replace Cameroon as host of this year's African Cup of Nations soccer tournament.
Cameroon was stripped of hosting duties late last year because of poor preparations and violent clashes between separatists and government forces in western parts of the country.
Egypt and South Africa were the only two countries to submit bids to replace Cameroon.
CAF awarded the tournament to Egypt, which last hosted the African championship in 2006, after its executive committee met in Dakar on Tuesday.
This year's African Cup is in June and July, giving Egypt only five months to get ready, and is also the first to be increased from 16 to 24 teams.
The Egypt team is a record seven-time African Cup of Nations champion.
Egypt to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
Egypt to host 2019 Africa Cup of Nations
Twice champion Naomi Osaka out of Australian Open
- Osaka said on social media that her body needed attention following her previous match against Sorana Cirstea
MELBOURNE: Twice Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka has pulled out of the Grand Slam ahead of her scheduled third round match on Saturday, citing a fitness problem.
Her opponent, Australian Maddison Inglis, has a walkover into the fourth round.
Japanese 16th seed Osaka, the 2019 and 2021 winner at Melbourne Park, said on social media that her body needed attention following her previous match against Sorana Cirstea, without elaborating on the issue.
“I’ve had to make the difficult decision to withdraw to address something my body needs attention for after my last match,” she wrote.
“I was so excited to keep going and this run meant the most to me, so having to stop here breaks my heart but I can’t risk doing any further damage so I can get back on the court.”
The pull-out is a setback for Osaka, who has been returning to her best and made the US Open semifinals last year.
At Melbourne Park, Osaka made a huge splash before her opening match against Antonia Ruzic when she entered Rod Laver Arena in a jellyfish-inspired outfit, one of the boldest fashion statements seen at a Grand Slam.
