Zambia’s Minister Chishimba Kambwili has said Zambia is planning to bid for the hosting of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

Kambwili said he believed that time was now ripe for Zambia to host Africa’s most prestigious football showpiece having participated 16 times in the AFCON competitions since independence in 1964.

He said Zambia, who won the 2012 AFCON co-hosted by Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, could not go on for almost five decades since gaining political independence without hosting the tournament, especially with the massive infrastructure coming up across the country.

In an interview in Luanshya yesterday, Kambwili said the ministry had in principle agreed to push for a Zambian bid for the 2019 AFCON finals.

He said he would soon present the matter before Cabinet for consideration and possible approval.

“In principle as a ministry, we have plans to bid for AFCON”