The country has never staged the event before, but successfully hosted the recent under-20 edition of the competition.

Following the conclusion of the tournament, which the hosts won after beating Senegal 2-0 in the final, Lungu declared Zambia's intention to bid for 2025.

“I don’t know the bidding process, but as a politician, I am bidding right now,” Lungu said, according to the BBC.

“We can improve on the hotels, roads, and transport.”

Former Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Issa Hayatou met with Lungu after the under-20 tournament and claimed that Zambia could be given the tournament in the near future if any of the already-assigned hosts are forced to withdraw.

Hayatou was replaced as the President of CAF yesterday after being beaten in an election by Ahmad Ahmad. 

Ahmad, the head of the Madagascar Football Association, was the sole challenger to Hayatou, CAF's leader since 1988.

He claimed a 34-20 victory over the Cameroonian during the poll at the 39th Ordinary General Assembly at African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa in Ethiopia, an event attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

Hayatou, considered a controversial figure in the game, had been seeking a eighth term as CAF President.

“Zambia met all our requirements; let them start procedure once the bid is open, but if any country fails, we won’t even request for bid, we shall directly (allow) Zambia to host," Hayatou said.

The 2019 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is due to take place in Cameroon, with the 2021 tournament already awarded to the Ivory Coast.

Guinea has been has been given the 2023 version.

Zambia won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2012 following an enthralling 8-7 penalty shootout win over the Ivory Coast, held jointly by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

The country did bid for the 2019 tournament but lost out to Cameroon, who has held the tournament once before.