Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Sports and Youths Rachid Talbi Alami has finally spoken about why Morocco won’t compete to host the 1991 African Cup of Nations (CAN).
Alami said that it has never been the plan for Morocco to organize the CAN 2019 or replace Cameroon.
“It has never been a candidate or thought to do so,” Alami told RFI.
He added that the decision requires a major attention. “Everyone must mobilize to succeed. To organize something professional, this has to be plannedin advance, which is not the case.”
He added that Morocco will host the 2019 All-Africa Games next summer, and that Morocco is mobilizing its assets to make the event successful. “We cannot make a decision like that six months of the event coming,” he said.
After the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to strip the hosting rights from Cameroon earlier this month, international media speculated that Morocco and South Africa could be a possible replacement to Cameroon.
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However, when CAF announced the re-launch of the bidding process, Morocco remained silence which surprised and resulted in rumors and speculations from international media.
On Wednesday, an Algerian media outlet took speculations too far, claiming that Morocco is fearful of Algeria. The news outlet said that Algeria is Morocco’s reason for not hosting the tournament.
The news outlet also claimed that Morocco did not present any clear reasons for its refusal to replace Cameroon as “it owns the facilities and stadiums that allow it to do so, but the real reason is apparent.”
Before CAF’s decision to eliminate Cameroon, Moroccan officials vowed full support for Cameroon, denying that Morocco wants to replace it.
In March, President of Morocco’s Royal Football Federation (FRMF) Fouzi Lekjaa said that Morocco ‘is alongside our Cameroonian friends.”
He added that FRMF is at “the disposal of the Cameroonian Federation to make the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon,” and “the rumors are over.
Egypt is now expected to submit its bid to host the 2019 CAN.
