Freda Prempeh backs Ghana to bid for 2019 AFCON rights

Mrs Freda Akosua Prempeh, the Chairperson of the 2018 Africa Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, has backed Ghana’s football authority to consider bidding for the 2019 AFCON.

Cameroon were stripped of hosting next year's Africa Cup of Nations by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) because of delays in the progress of its preparation for the tournament,due to start in June.

As a result of that, CAF is expected to announce a new host for the bi-annual competition and South Africa through its football federation (SAFA) has shown interest in stepping in and hosting the continental showpiece.

But the Member of Parliament for Tano North Constituency in the Brong Ahafo Region is convinced Ghana has enough facilities to stage a successful tournament in June after hosting the 2018 AWCON.

“We are hoping, if they [CAF] can give Ghana the opportunity to host AFCON again, we will be hosting about 24 countries. I believe that with the Accra Sports Stadium re-touched now, we have the Cape Coast Sports Stadium, we have the Essipong Stadium, which needs some renovation, she told Kwame Dwomoh Agyemang in an interview on The Grandstand on Class91.3FM

"In the Ashanti Region, we can talk of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium, we can talk of Len Clay Sports Stadium."

“Speaking of training pitches, Paa Joe Sports Stadium can be used. We have Prempreh College. We have one at Opoku Ware [Senior High School]. In Accra, we have one at Achimota that can be worked on. El-Wak Stadium has been worked on, PRESEC Legon Park has been worked on."

She added, “We have another stadium at Tamale, the Aliu Mahama Stadium. So, we can conveniently talk about six, seven or eight stadia that can host the tournament."

“There is no harm in trying. Even if we are given the opportunity to co-host, we would have moved from one level to another. I don’t see why the Normalisation Committee and, therefore, the Ministry of Youth and Sports can’t put in a try.”

Ghana has hosted four Africa Cup of Nations in 1963, 1978, 2000 and 2008.