BBC Sport Online: BBC Sport Online: Football: Africa

Thumbs up for Mali venues

CAF boss Issa Hayatou 'delighted' with Mali's progress

The decision was announced by CAF officials at the end of a final inspection visit to Mali headed by the continental body's president, Issa Hayatou.

There were growing concerns prior to the visit that some of the venues would not be ready for the tournament which kicks off on 19 January next year.

But Hayatou has expressed delight at progress made in the construction of stadia and hotels.

Provincial towns

The CAF boss is also understood to be pleased with efforts being made to upgrade telecommunications facilities in the West African country.

CAF's seal of approval means that matches will, therefore, go ahead as scheduled in the capital Bamako.

There will also be action in the provincial towns of Kayes, Mopti, Segou and Sikasso.

The draw for the 16-nation competition will take place on 8 September in Bamako.

Hosts Mali will go into the hat alongside holders Cameroon, Algeria, Burkina Faso, DR Congo, Egypt, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, Liberia, Morocco, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, Tunisia and Zambia.