Confederation of African Football (CAF) is seeking a replacement for Cameroon, which was stripped of hosting rights last month due to poor preparations.
The Egypt Football Association (EFA) has put in an official bid and said that it is interested in bidding to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
“The Egyptian football federation (EFA) declares its candidacy to host the 2019 African Nations Cup which is scheduled to take place in June and should have been organised by Cameroon which is not prepared to host it.” The federation said in a statement on Twitter.
The Pharaohs expressed its interest in hosting the tournament after Morocco pulled out of contention in a surprise announcement.
Egypt said that it would not enter the race and compete with the expected bid from fellow North African nation. But Morocco’s decision not to bid appears to have led to Egypt’s change of heart.
Egypt have won the competition a record seven times and hosted the tournament three times in 1974, 1986 and 2006.
The shortlist of countries bidding to host the tournament is expected to be unveiled on December 25th.
The host of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations will be chosen on 9th January 2019 in Dakar, Senegal, a day after the 2018 Caf awards.
Cameroon was accepted to host the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and Ivory Coast would host the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, but it is yet to be confirmed.
Fourteen countries have already confirmed their places at the 2019 tournament and they are; Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Madagascar, Morocco, Mali, Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria, Egypt, Uganda, Mauritania, Guinea and Ivory Coast.
The other ten places will be decided during the final qualifiers in March 2019.
The 2019 AFCON tournament will be the first to host 24 teams. The competition will be held from 15th June to 13th July.