Egypt were comfortable winners in their bid to stage the event for a record fourth time, polling seven votes from the 11 of 13 committee members who were present at the meeting.

Libya received two votes while Algeria and the Ivory Coast earned one each, giving the Egyptians a clear first-round majority.

The 2006 edition of the 16-team event will have added importance with the Nations Cup tournament also acting as Africa's qualifiers for the World Cup finals in Germany later the same year.

The top five finishers at the 2006 finals will advance to the World Cup, although CAF have yet to decide on the formula to decide the five qualifiers.

Hosts Egypt now have a distinct advantage, though, by not having to qualify for the 2006 Nations Cup finals.

Observers said on Thursday that Egypt had benefited from the tense political situation in both Algeria and the Ivory Coast, where on-going civil strife severely damaged their bids.

Egypt's victory means the next two Nations Cup finals will be played in north Africa, long a dominant force in continental football.

Tunisia host the next edition of the Nations Cup in 2004. Egypt previously hosted the event in 1959, 1974 and 1986.