Countries in South, East and Central Africa will soon lobby for rotational hosting of the African Cup of Nations following the failure to make it to the Confederation of African Football short list for the 2010 bid.

Of the five countries short-listed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on May 14, only one is from the southern part of the continent. Angola made it to the short list together with Nigeria, Libya, Equatorial Guinea and Gabon.

Zimbabwean Education, Sport and Culture Minister Aeneas Chigwedere said on a television program that countries from the southern African region, which had been marginalized for too long, were mobilizing and would soon lobby CAF to have the tournament held on a rotational basis.

He said justice should prevail because the tournament was for the whole of Africa not a preserve for West and North Africa only.

"Countries from south, east and central Africa have been at the receiving end as far as hosting the tournament is concerned and we are saying enough is enough," he said. "Justice should prevail and every region must have a chance to host the tournament."

He said resources from the marginalised regions are being used to develop sports and economies of countries in west and north Africa which have dominated the hosting of the Nations Cup.

The minister also said that if they fail to entice CAF on their proposal, they might even contemplate forming a splinter organization for the marginalized countries.

Zimbabwe, Namibia and Mozambique had their bid dismissed under dubious circumstances with football analysts accusing CAF of favouring countries with oil reserves in order to get financial rewards.

South Africa is the only country from the southern tip of the continent to host the biennial tournament.

Nigeria was host in 2000 and Libya, another former host, is tipped to win the 2010 bid.