KINSHASA: The Democratic Republic of Congo has entered the bidding contest to host the 2019 finals of the African Nations Cup.

Sports Minister Baudouin Banza Mukalay Nsungu said: “The Congo is an applicant for the candidates (to host) the 2019 AFCON. I put the dossier into the hands of the FECOFA (Congolese football federation), which has already passed it onto CAF (the Confederation of African Football). We await the specifications, which we will fill calmly.”

The bid proposal would see most fixtures staged in the capital, Kinshasa, and the southeastern city of Lumumbashi. New stadia are also being proposed for Matadi and Kisangani.

Morocco will host the finals in 2015 and Libya in 2017. DR Congo had originally submitted a bid for both but withdrew after an initial evaluation visit by the African Confederation.

Originally Libya had been chosen for this year and South Africa for 2017 but the nations agreed to switch after the civil war which saw the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi.

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