Sudan's FA says country is "ready" to host Nations Cup

Fifa President Sepp Blatter was amongst the visitors during the CHAN

The success of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) means Sudan is "ready" to host a Nations Cup, according to the country's FA.

The 16-team tournament for locally-based players only finished on Friday, when Tunisia beat Angola 3-0 in the final.

It was the first major tournament that Sudan had hosted since 1970.

"I think we are ready [to host a Nations Cup]" Sudanese FA vice-president Ahmed El-Sheik told the BBC.

Stadiums and other facilities had been significantly improved in the build-up to the CHAN, he said - and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) were happy with the organisation of the event.

"We have been pressing our government to do something for the infrastructure of our stadiums - and radical change has now happened, especially in Khartoum and Medany. Our government put a lot of money into those stadiums," El-Sheik said.

The low point of the tournament was the violence which marred the semi-final between the hosts and Angola.

Sudan lost the game and fans responded, both during and after the match, by throwing rocks and bottles on to the pitch.

"We don't approve of that at all; the fans wanted our team to go to the final but that is not an excuse," El-Sheik said.

He insisted that, overall, hosting the CHAN has improved Sudan's image across the continent and beyond.

"So many people think that Sudan is not tolerable, but now everyone who has come here has seen the reality - it is a very easy place, a very safe country."