May 30 – Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Ahmad says a special committee has been set up to deal with security issues at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt next month.
At least 12 people were injured when an explosion hit a bus carrying mostly South African tourists in Cairo 10 days ago and Egypt’s Interior Ministry said recently that militant extremists were planning a series of attacks in the country to create an “atmosphere of chaos”.
The Nations Cup will feature 24 teams t to play at venues in Cairo, Alexandria, Ismailia and Suez from June 21-July 19.
“Security is a big problem in the world, not only in Egypt. No country can be sure that nothing will happen. It is very sad to feel like that,” Ahmad told reporters during a two-day visit to South Africa.
“The Egyptian government and CAF have for the first time implemented a security committee and they will continue to work together to try and make sure that nothing will happen.”
At the 2010 Nations Cup, three people were killed when the Togo team bus was attacked as they travelled to the tournament in Angola.
Togo withdrew from the tournament, which led to a CAF ban for the next two editions, though that was later quashed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
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