DAKAR, Oct 15: Senegal have announced their intention to bid for the 2010 African Nations Cup finals, the year the World Cup comes to Africa for the first time. Senegal join a growing list of potential candidates ahead of the deadline for entries at the end of the month.

Senegal’s intentions were announced by the country’s sports minister El Hadj Daouda Faye, who said they would propose four separate venues for the 16-team tournament.

Senegal previously hosted the Nations Cup finals in 1992. The surprise 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists failed to qualify for the 2006 World Cup

Earlier this week Mozambique’s government gave the go-ahead for the country’s football federation to bid for the event.

Algeria, Botswana, Morocco, Nigeria, Zambia and Zimbabwe are also among the countries who have previously stated their intention to bid for the finals.

Egypt host the 2006 finals early next year while Ghana have been awarded the hosting of the 2008 event.—Reuters