The tournament was originally due to take place in Nairobi at the end of last month but was postponed at the last minute after a terror attack hit the Kenyan capital at Westgate Mall which killed at least 67 people and injured another 175.

The Africa Hockey Federation (AfHF) and International Hockey Federation (FIH) have since given the Kenyan Hockey Union (KHU) the nod and allowed them to host the event at a later date.

In a letter to the KHU, secretary general of the AfHF, Nii Quaye-Kumah confirmed that the tournament was to go ahead after the security situation in Kenya improved.

"The dates have been agreed upon for the 2013 Cup of Nations," wrote said Kumah. 

"The tournament will now run from November 18-24,"

The hockey African Cup of Nations was postponed after the Nairobi terror attack at Westgate Mall


But Africa's governing body revealed that four teams have withdrawn from the competition due to security concerns and lack of funds.

Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles had already withdrawn from the tournament following the original hosts Egypt's pull-out two months ago due to a lack of training time after the political uprising in that country.

The AfHF granted Kenya the rights to stage the tournament, after initially sanctioning Egypt.

But political tension and unrest in the country has gifted Nairobi to be considered ahead of Johannesburg as the alternative host venue.

South Africa, Ghana, Tanzania and Kenya are now the only teams who have confirmed their participation in the competition.

Both men and women's competitions will follow the one-pool league format.

The top two teams will clash for the ultimate prize and the right to represent Africa at the 2014 FIH World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands.

This will be the second time Kenya have staged the tournament, having hosted it back in 1995.

Nairobi also hosted the Olympic qualifiers for Beijing 2008 in 2007.

Lloyd Norris-Jones is expected to be among South Africa's leading stars at they chase a record seventh consecutive victory in the African Cup of Nations, a record which stretches back to 1993, the last occasion Nairobi staged the event

"It is an honour for us to edge out South Africa to stage this tournament," said aid Nashon Randiek, chairman of the KHU.

"We have hosted before the Africa Club Championships and it is an honour to host this event.

"We are determined to make it a success," 

South Africa will go in the tournament as firm favourites in both men's and women's competitions.

The men's team have been victorious on the last six occasions with the South African women winning the last five.

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