2013 Nations Cup South Africa - Nigerian football authorities are disappointed that African soccer's governing body, CAF, has awarded the hosting rights for the 2013 Nations Cup to South Africa in a swap deal.

According to online football website mtnfootball.com, Nigeria had expected to be awarded the hosting rights because it was put on standby by CAF, in the event that original host Libya could not stage the tournament due to the political and security situation in the north African nation.

However, CAF decided that South Africa, which had been billed to host the 2017 edition, would now stage the 2013 tournament, while Libya will organise the 2017 competition.

“It is a very embarrassing and annoying situation what CAF is doing to us,” Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Musa Amadu, was quoted as saying. “Sincerely speaking, I cannot say the reason CAF refused to grant us the 2013 Nations Cup.'

“We have done everything we were suppose to have done as regards our interest as early August, just what the South Africans were also doing,' he added.

Pana 30/09/2011