Segun Akanni, Toronto, Canada 
Prof. Asarf Sobhy, Egypt’s Minister for Youths and Sports, says the six stadia for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will be ready by mid-May.
Sobhy stated this on Friday in Cairo when journalists from 20 African countries, including Nigeria, participating in the 53rd training course for Young African Journalists, paid him a courtesy visit.
He said Egypt was not building new stadia for the tournament, but carrying out renovation and upgrading of six existing stadia.
He said the country was confident of completing the renovation on schedule as the time management and project execution for the stadia were going as planned.
He said Egypt was glad to host the 2019 African Cup of Nations and to receive youths from various African countries for the forthcoming tournament.
According to Sobhy, the confederation tournament will further strengthen the diplomatic ties among the participating African countries.
The minister said the government of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was very passionate about the rights of women, adding that the 2014 constitution permitted 25 per cent quota for women’s participation in local council.
He said act provided space for at least 13,500 women across Egypt to partake in local development and decision-making processes.
The 2019 Africa Cup of Nations, known as: “Total 2019 Africa Cup of Nations,” would commence on June 21 and end July 19.
Twenty-four teams will participate.
