▁of ▁Youth ▁and ▁Sports ▁then ▁claimed ▁that ▁they ▁wanted ▁to ▁host ▁the ▁tournament ▁due ▁to ▁the ▁poor ▁facilities ▁they ▁encountered ▁in ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 2 ▁A FC ▁Challenge ▁Cup ▁which ▁the ▁M ald ives ▁qualified ▁and ▁competed ▁in . ▁ ▁In ▁mid - Nov ember ▁ 2 0 1 3 , ▁A FC ▁president ▁Sal man ▁Bin ▁I bra him ▁Al - K hal ifa ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁Philippines ▁would ▁be ▁the ▁backup ▁hosts ▁" if ▁something ▁goes ▁wrong ▁in ▁M ald ives ." ▁ ▁By ▁ 2 5 ▁November , ▁the ▁A FC ▁proposed ▁- ▁pending ▁the ▁appro val ▁of ▁the ▁Executive ▁Committee ▁- ▁to ▁move ▁the ▁tournament ▁from ▁the ▁M ald ives ▁to ▁the ▁Philippines ▁if ▁the ▁M ald ives ▁do ▁not ▁start ▁the ▁required ▁renov ation ▁work ▁by ▁ 1 5 ▁December ▁ 2 0 1 3 . ▁ ▁The ▁A FC ▁then ▁ins pected ▁possible ▁ven ues ▁in ▁Man ila ▁and ▁the ▁Philipp ine ▁Football ▁Federation ▁claimed ▁that ▁they ▁would ▁be ▁ready ▁to ▁host ▁the ▁tournament ▁if ▁given ▁the ▁nod . ▁ ▁Despite ▁this , ▁the ▁M ald ives ' ▁Ministry ▁of ▁Youth ▁and ▁Sports ▁said ▁they ▁would ▁do ▁everything ▁necessary ▁for ▁the ▁country ▁to ▁host ▁the ▁tournament . ▁On ▁ 7 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 4 , ▁the ▁A FC ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁M ald ives ▁would ▁remain ▁as ▁the ▁host ▁of ▁the ▁ 2 0 1 4 ▁A FC ▁Challenge ▁Cup . ▁ ▁Ven ues ▁After ▁the ▁M ald ives ▁were ▁given ▁the ▁hosting