ALGIERS, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Algerian Sport Minister Mohamed Hattab on Monday confirmed that his country will not file request to host 2019 African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Hattab made the announcement during his visit to the western province of Oran, which will the Mediterranean Games in 2021.

"The priority for Algeria in the immediate future is to complete its major projects, notably in terms of building infrastructures and ensuring good care for our youth and our national sports," the minister noted.

On Friday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), the continent's football governing body, decided to withdraw the organization of AFCON 2019 from Cameroon over "inadequate infrastructure and pressing insecurity concerns that the CAF inspection mission has observed."

The only time that Algeria hosted AFCON dates back to 1990, the year the North African nation won its unique continental trophy. Enditem