Morocco has no intention of taking over the organisation of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations from Cameroon, the North African sports minister has said.

The Egyptian media has widely reported this week that the Confederation of African Football, Caf would strip Cameroon of the the hosting rights of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations for the country’s slow preparations.

The reports added that Morocco has been lined up as a replacement for the tournament which will host 24 teams in June next year.

On Monday, former Egypt international goalkeeper Ahmed Sobier said the Confederation of African Football is ready to strip Cameroon of the hosting rights in favour of Morocco.

However, Morocco’s Minister of Youth and Sports Rachid Talbi El Amani has dismissed such reports describing them as “fake news”.

“These are all lies. We were all surprise to read such information in the media but we can assure at no point in time have we thought of hosting the 2019 Afcon,” Rachid Talbi El Amani told Mediapart.

On Cameroon’s difficulties in putting the pieces together ahead of the tournament next year, the Moroccan sports minister said it was common place for host countries to experience delays but that has never hindered them from staging the competitions.

“It is insolent to think Cameroon will not be able to host the competition next year given its experience and capacity to host competitions,” he said.