Morocco’s minister of Youth and Sports Rachid Talbi Alami has officially announced that Morocco will not bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN).
Rabat – Shutting down the rumors, Alami declared to Moroccan sports channel, Arryadia on Wednesday that “Morocco will not be a bidding candidate to host CAN 2019,” also known as AFCON.
Alami did not specify the reasons for Morocco’s decision to abstain from the bid.
Officiel. Le #Maroc ne sera pas candidat à l’organisation de la #CAN2019 (déclaration du Ministre de la Jeunesse et des Sports M. Rachid Talbi Alami à #Arryadia) pic.twitter.com/J8UBC3Urnd
— Arryadia TV officiel (@arryadiatv) December 12, 2018
In recent days, local and international media have been speculating that Morocco intended to submit its bid to host CAN, after Cameroon lost its hosting rights.
Cameron lost eligibility to host the tournament on November 30, due to delays with venue building and security concerns.
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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is currently looking for alternatives to host the CAN. The confederation will announce the hosting nation on January 9.
Morocco was under consideration as a possible alternative. While several Moroccan sports officials denied Morocco’s intention to replace Cameroon, the head coach of the national football team, Herve Renard expressed a different view.
Last month, Renard publicly stated that he believes Morocco meets all the requirements to host the football tournament which will witness the participation of Morocco’s national team.
CAF called on all of its Member Associations to submit their bid dossier before Friday, December 14, hoping to secure a new host by the end of December.
