Moroccan Minister of Youth and Sports Rachid Talbi Alami has expatiated why they ruled out joining the bidding process to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
On Wednesday, Rachid Talbi Alami disclosed that they are not interested in taking over from Cameroon as hosts of Africa’s flagship football competition.
The continent’s football governing body, CAF is looking for new hosts after its executive committee voted unanimously to strip Cameroon of hosting rights two weeks ago.
Morocco were heavily speculated to be readying themselves to put in their bid as well as South Africa and Egypt who were also under consideration as replacement hosts.
But the country’s sports Minister has ruled out bidding for the tournament during an interview with Al-Mustakhab newspaper.
“I cannot but be surprised and surprised by what has been promoted, we have never discussed the idea of hosting the tournament,” he said.
“We have important commitments next year to host the African Games, which will be held in Rabat. We cannot host two tournaments at the same time or at a similar time,” he said.
Alami stressed that he is not responsible for what was promoted during the last period of Morocco’s desire to host the African Nations Cup, stressing that his government did not discuss the idea from the ground.
Morocco last hosted the competition in 1988 while Egypt last hosted an Africa Cup of Nations in 2006 when the Pharaohs won the trophy.
The decision to strip Cameroon of 2019 hosting rights has an impact on the next few editions of the African Cup of Nations.
CAF said it would “initiate an open and urgent call for new host country bids to ensure Afcon 2019 takes place next summer” and would “ensure that a new host is in place by 31st December 2018.”
