2019 CAN:

Caf postpones inspection mission to Cameroon

Cameroon needs to prove it can host 24 teams instead of 16 in the newly expanded Africa Cup of Nations in 2019

An inspection mission to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations hosts Cameroon has been postponed by the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

The Caf team was scheduled to begin the eight-day inspection on Sunday 20 August.

                Caf confirmed the visit would now begin on a later date following the last minute withdrawal of the independent audit firm, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC).

                No reason was given for PWC's withdrawal. But sources say they evoked security concerns.

                Fecafoot president, Tombi A RokoSidiki, was notified by Caf.

                Tombi in an earkier letter to CAF had debunked rumours about security concerns for visiting inspectors.

                "We observed that there was a huge rumour circulating, indicating that the security of the members of the audit firm selected for the first inspection mission from August 20-28 in relation to the hosting of the 2019 AFCON, was at stake," Tombi wrote to Caf, reassuring both PWC and Caf that the Cameroon 2019 organising committee "have taken all necessary measures to ensure their safety" during their stay.

                Earlier this month, Caf president, Ahmad Ahmad, said Cameroon needed "to convince Caf" of its ability to host the 2019 Nations Cup which will feature 24 teams instead of 16 for the first time.