CONFEDERATION of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou says the bidding process for the 2016 African Cup of Nations will be opened soon.

The 2012 AFCON will be jointly hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon while Libya will host the 2014 event.
 “We will soon designate the host country six years before the start of the competition. And now we keep this deadline so that each country which we have entrusted organisation has time to prepare,” said Hayatou.
Having been at the helm of CAF over the last 22 years, Hayatou blasted those who are calling for the tournament to be held every four years.
“The decision is pending. No decision has been taken yet. This requires a great reflection on the feasibility, particularly in terms of qualifying for major competitions,” he said.
Describing the 2010 tournament eventually won by Egypt as fairly balanced, Hayatou said it is the vision of CAF for countries to emulate some clubs in Northern Africa who area already professional.
“The will of the CAF is that players can stay in their country and not always be leaving for somewhere else, outside Africa. There are already some big clubs, especially in the northern part, (who have turned professional.)
“This does not appear from the jurisdiction of the CAF. Each country is based on political choices and economic criteria. The establishment of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) main goal is to allow players remain in their country to have a competition which is exclusively reserved for them.”