Confederations of African Football receives Kenya's bid to host 2017 AFCON

Harambee Stars defender Dennis Odhiambo during the during the team's training session at Kasarani Stadium on 07.10.2014 ahead of their friendly match against Morrocco, in Marrakech.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

The Confederations of African Football (CAF) has confirmed it has received seven applications to host the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations finals.

The applications which include one lodged by Kenya were received in Cairo before the September 30 deadline. Other countries which met the deadline are Algeria, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Rwanda and Tanzania who had also shown interest in hosting the tournament were not short-listed. The Tanzania Football Association said on its website that they were locked out of the short-list for the fact that they have not hosted an under-age continental tournament.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) said on its website that due to the limited time frame for organisation of the 2017 event, its executive committee will focus on a host with an acceptable infrastructure and facilities required that is stadia, training grounds, accommodation and communications.

“The host country will be decided by the CAF Executive Committee during one of its sessions in 2015,” said the association on its website.

Elsewhere, in the wake of complaints over officiating standards in both Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and Nationwide league ties, the national association has disbanded the referees’ appointment committee.

The ban affects appointment committees of both KPL and Nationwide league matches and takes effect immediately.

The appointments will now be left to three people, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Sam Nyamweya, his Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Michael Esakwa and KPL CEO Jack Oguda.

Nyamweya said yesterday that the move is aimed at maintaining integrity of the two competitions with less than four matches before the season ends.

“We are aware of the challenges and complaints raised by clubs over the appointment of referees and have taken a decision to try and rectify it. For this reason, both committees are disbanded and the appointment will now be handled by myself, Esakwa and Oguda until we streamline the whole process,” he said.