Caf delays women's championship

By Oluwashina Okeleji
BBC Sport, Lagos

Nigeria are the reigning champions

Caf has postponed the start of the African Women's Championship (AWC), scheduled for September in Nigeria.

The local organisers said the towns of Warri and Oghara in Delta State, selected to host the matches, will suffer from heavy rainfall during that month.

They asked Caf for the tournament to commence later, with the last week of October being offered as an alternative.

Caf communications director Suleiman Habuba said a firm date will be announced in the next few days.

Solomon Ogba, Delta State's commissioner for sport, said Caf's approval of their request will ensure the tournament is organised under better conditions.

"We plan to give the participating nations a perfect welcome and this is what the new month will afford us," Ogba told BBC Sport on Monday.

"Hosting a championship of this magnitude in the month of September will not have been good for us or our guests."

There had been doubts over Nigeria's commitment to host the competition, after they responded to Caf's plea to replace Gabon, who unexpectedly withdrew.

The 2006 AWC will be the third time that Nigeria will be hosting this competition, after organising it in 1998 and 2002.

Eight countries are due to take part, with the finalists representing the continent at the 2007 World Cup in China.