Egypt to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations

Egypt will host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), President of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Ahmad Ahmad, announced Tuesday in Dakar.

Egypt was preferred to South Africa, the only other nation to submit a bid, at a Caf executive committee meeting.

Original host nation Cameroon was stripped of staging the event in November because of slow preparations. Egypt has hosted the tournament four times. The AFCON will be held from June 15 to July 13. 

Tuesday's announcement took place in the Senegalese capital Dakar, which will host Caf's annual awards ceremony later in the day.

Egypt's Mohamed Salah is looking to retain his title as he takes on Gabon's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Senegal's Sadio Mane for the African Player of the Year award.