Egypt is pulling out all the stops to ensure safety for AFCON 2019. Awarded the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations last November, the country is preparing to host the tournament from June 21 to July 19 under a tense atmosphere.
The Egyptian government has announced that 120,000 police officers will be deployed across all competition venues, including stadiums, fan zones, hotels accommodating the teams, and other high-traffic areas. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s administration emphasizes that “all measures have been taken to ensure the safety of the teams and the public,” reassuring both participating delegations and thousands of spectators expected in the host cities.
Although Egypt has hosted the Africa Cup of Nations four times previously, this is the first time it is doing so since the 2011 revolution that ended President Hosni Mubarak’s regime and caused a period of security instability. The massive security deployment highlights the country’s determination to stage a safe and successful tournament.
