All the 16 teams that have qualified to participate at next year’s Orange Africa Cup of Nations yesterday went through an exhaustive workshop at the Suncoast Hotels and Towers in Durban.

Scheduled for Team Delegation leaders, national team coaches and administrators, the six hour presentation directed by the Tournament Directors Shereen Arafa of CAF and Paul Russell of the LOC, the teams were put through all the requirements of the competition including marketing, medical, media, team organisation, travels, accommodation, ticketing and accreditation.

While Togo, Niger and Ethiopia could not make it to the workshop, Nigeria was represented by Enebi Achor, Super Eagles secretary.

It was also an opportunity to be introduced to the permanent team Liaison Officers, (TLO ) the four CAF General Coordinators and an explanation of the organograms of CAF and the LOC.

Frequently asked questions regarding team arrival meetings, match coordination meetings and hotel accommodation were posed by the participating associations and answered accordingly.

Prior to the draw, the teams were also given an overview of the hosting cities complete with weather forecasts in January and December when the competition will hold, in between distances of the venues ( Hotels, training pitches, stadiums and airports)

For instance the teams were told that CAF will only cater for thirty members of each delegation, seven officials and 23 players, and should any federation plan to come with more, contact should be made with the LOC to block hotel reservations and the bookings must be confirmed by December 1 at the latest.

Marketing regulations were also treated in detail and while countries are advised to register a third colour, it was revealed that three goalkeeper’s jerseys must be registered as a rule.

The official match ball, about 30, will be sent to the teams by November 14 and countries are advised to start getting their players to be familiar with them, before the competition proper.

On Monday, the CAF Executive committee at its meeting drew lots for the allocation of hotels and training grounds, so much that the hotels now bear letters that will correspond to teams when they are drawn.

Tomorrow, all the teams, their TLO’s, CAF head of Delegation and General Coordinators will embark on a familiarization tour of the venues where they will play come January.

The opening match of the Nations cup will kick off at the 87,226 capacity Soccer City in Jo’Burg on January 19 by 18.00hrs ( Local time ) between South Africa and the team that will be drawn as A4 tonight.