Congo Brazzaville have poured cold water on claims by Caf that they are interested to replace Cameroon as hosts of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) finals.
The denial flies in the face of Caf second vice president Constant, who had last week revealed that Congo had filed interest with Caf to be handed hosting rights.
Congo Sports Minister Hugues Ngouélondélé distanced his country from bidding to host the biennial tournament, stating that they are incapacitated to do so.
“We are six months away from organising the African Cup of Nations and it will not be possible for us to organise it with honor and dignity,” Ngouélondélé told Radio France International.
“It is rather the opposite, Congo-Brazzaville will not be candidates. It will not be possible.
"Maybe one day we will be candidates. But for the moment it is not on the agenda of our government. Maybe the idea has circulated, but in the face of reality is that we cannot organise a big event like this.
“We do not have the structures for the moment. We have other priorities than to organise the Afcon tournament at the moment.”
Either Morocco or South Africa are heavily touted to win the hosting rights that were stripped from Cameroon who were found ill-prepared and stripped of the mandate.
But Morocc and South Africa are however yet to make formal bids. Caf have promised that the new hosts would be announced by the end of this year.
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