South Africa finally names 2013 Africa Cup of Nations cities

South Africa has named the host cities for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nelspruit, Rustenburg, Port Elizabeth and Durban will join Johannesburg in hosting matches at the tournament in January and February next year.

Johannesburg will host the opening and closing ceremonies - and the final.

The venues had been scheduled to be announced at the beginning of April but the news was delayed by negotiations over financial issues.

A news conference to make the announcement was postponed from Thursday, with the decision being revealed on Friday by the South African minister of sport and recreation, Fikile Mbalula.

Eight cities made their original presentations to the LOC on 21 March but financial worries led to bidders like Johannesburg and Cape Town refusing to sign an agreement until certain issues were resolved.

This led to the South African government deciding it would help with covering the costs of the host cities.

As a result, an Inter-Ministerial Committee was set up to further engage with the Local Organising Committee and discuss all matters pertaining to government guarantees and related issues.