Equatorial Guinea to Host Inaugural Africa Cup of Nations Game

BATA, Equatorial Guinea, Jan. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Co-host Equatorial Guinea will open the 28th Edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2012) with a match against Libya in the newly remodeled Bata Stadium tomorrow, Saturday, January 21, 2012 in Bata, the country's largest city.

"Equatorial Guinea is proud to co-host the Africa Cup of Nations 2012, the continent's most prestigious cup. This is a great opportunity to show how the country is advancing and our continuous efforts to host international events is a proof of that," said President Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. "Winning the first game is a challenge the Nzalang [national selection] is ready to take on as it will lead the rest of the Cup."

The Nzalang National team is led in this tournament by their new coach, Brazilian Gílson Paulo. The Bata Stadium is a state-of–the-art venue and one of the many infrastructure projects in which the government of Equatorial Guinea has invested in recent years.

The country has pulled out all the stops to welcome the participating African teams, thousands of fans, and journalists from around the world. Hotels are filled to capacity, and the government has arranged overflow lodgings in private properties and subsidized housing units that are to be distributed to low-income families after the games.

Extra flights have been added to accommodate the many people who will travel between the two tournament venues, Bata and the capital, Malabo. Malabo is located on the island of Bioko, some 45 minutes by air from the mainland city of Bata.

About Equatorial Guinea

The Republic of Equatorial Guinea (Republica de Guinea Ecuatorial) is the only Spanish-speaking country in Africa, and one of the smallest nations on the continent. In the late-1990s, American companies helped discover the country's oil and natural gas resources, which only within the last five years began contributing to the global energy supply. Equatorial Guinea is now working to serve as a pillar of stability and security in its region of West Central Africa. The country hosted the 2011 Summit of the African Union. For more information, visit http://www.guineaecuatorialpress.com.

SOURCE Republic of Equatorial Guinea

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED