The 2004 African Nations Cup finals in Tunisia will be hosted at six different venues and be played from January 24 to February 14, the Confederation of African Football has announced.

The six venues include the newly-built stadium at Rades, on the outskirts of the capital Tunis, which was used for last year's Mediterranean Games and the El Menzah stadium in Tunis where the final of the 1994 African Nations Cup, which Tunisia also hosted, was played.

The other venues are the Olympic stadium in Sousse, also used in 1994, the Tayeb Mniri stadium in Sfax, the October 15 stadium in Bizerte and the Ben Jeannet stadium in Monastir.

The tournament dates have taken into consideration Fifa's new co-ordinated international calendar ands the rainy season in the north African country, Caf said.

The dates were announced in Tunis on Sunday night after Caf president Issa Hayatou conducted an inspection visit.

The Caf congress, at which Hayatou's long-standing presidency is expected to be come under strong challenge, will be held two days before the kick off of the tournament, in Tunis on January 22.

The draw for the four opening round groups at the 16-team tournament will be conducted in Tunis on September 20 next year.

Qualification for the 2004 finals ends in July when 14 teams will progress to the final tournament along with the hosts and Cameroon, who are the holders of the African title.