Hayatou said wet weather would prevent many African countries hosting the 16-team competition in June or July during the European close season.

"We would not have decent pitches to stage the tournament on. It would be more like water polo than football," Hayatou told a press conference here before the biennial Nations Cup kicks off Friday.

French and English clubs have been particularly hard hit at a crucial time of the season with six players from Saint Etienne called up and four from Bolton Wanderers.

Asked why the mid-year World Cup had been awarded to South Africa in 2010, Confederation of African Football president Hayatou said weather conditions in north and southern Africa were favourable for football at that time.

"But for the rest, it is not possible," he stressed.

North African countries Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia were the other contenders for the 2010 World Cup, destined to be the first edition of the quadrennial tournament staged in Africa.