Egyptian Football Association (EFA) president and the head of the AFCON 2019 organising committee Hany Abo Rida has hailed the enormous effort made by the committee in just four months to organise the tournament, adding that Egypt is looking to host the UEFA Super Cup. "The current AFCON edition is no less than the 2018 World Cup that was held in Russia," Abo Rida said in a press conference on Tuesday. Egypt have hosted Africa Cup of Nations four times in 1959, 1974, 1986, and 2006, succeeding in clinching three titles except the 1974 edition. The EFA president also revealed that Egypt seeks to host UEFA Super Cup match, stressing that the country is ready to host the U-23 African Cup of Nations that qualifies for the Olympics. "The tournament doesn't belong to Egypt only, it belongs to Africa, but we wanted to send a message to the world that Africa can organise an international event in a short period," the FIFA and CAF Executive Committee member Abo Rida explained. He also revealed that the current edition has 24 training pitches for the first time in the history of the prestigious continental competition. Warda's saga Hours ahead of the 2-0 victory over DR Congo in the second match of the group stage, Egypt's team preparations were hit by the EFA's decision to exclude winger Amr Warda from the camp for disciplinary reasons. The punishment was reduced later to just the end of the first round after the player apologised and his teammates appealed for his pardon. Abo Rida commented on the Warda situation, stressing that the players are committed and respect the EFA and its president. "Warda's punishment was to put him back on the right track," concluded Abo Rida. Hosts Egypt reached the round of 16 as Group A winners with the maximum nine points after three successive wins over Zimbabwe, DR Congo and Uganda. The Pharaohs will face a third placed side from Groups C, D or E on Saturday as they bid for an eighth Nations Cup crown. (For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)
