Expectations are that the tournament will be a big boost for the country

Angola's deputy sports minister says that there is likely to be a severe shortage of hotel accommodation for fans at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.

"We have secured enough hotels for tournament officials and teams, but the problem will be to find rooms for the tourists that will come to our country," said Albino da Conceicao.

Estimates are that around 10,000 tourists will go to Angola for the tournament, which runs from 10 to 31 January.

The few existing hotels are already booked months in advance, and 11 new hotels being built will only accommodate a few thousand more.

Da Conceicao says that one solution will be to be to appeal to the residents of the four host cities to help accommodate tourists during the tournament.

The capital, Luanda, is considered to be the world's most expensive city for expatriates, according to human resources firm ECA.

Already, tourists lucky enough to find a room there can pay as much as $400 for a one-night stay.

Oil-rich Angola is recovering from a 27-year civil war that destroyed most of its infrastructure.

Officials have said in the past they hope the eagerly-anticipated tournament will help kick-start the tourism industry in the country.

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