Nigeria may be in the consideration to host the 2025 AFCON
According to latest reports, the Nigeria Football Federation are planning to co-host the 2025 African Cup of Nations.
Nigeria is pushing to host the competition alongside West African neighbours, Benin Republic.
Nigeria last hosted the AFCON 22 years ago when it hosted alongside Ghana in 2000.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick made the claim at the Teslim Balogun 50th anniversary held at Sheraton Hotels, Lagos.
Pinnick confirmed that Nigeria is one of the countries pushing to host the tournament alongside Benin Republic, as many countries have also signified interest.
The next edition of the AFCON will be staged in Ivory Coast on a new date in 2024. With Guinea’s political tension lasting longer than expected, assurances over the possibilities of hosting a tournament successfully have reduced, and CAF is seeking alternatives.
“Yes, I have indicated to CAF early today (Tuesday) during our emergency zoom meeting that Nigeria will be able to stage the tournament,” Pinnick was quoted as saying.
He added that the other countries willing to host the tournament are unknown and also added that the process is still in its early stages.
“We don’t know for now other countries that have submitted bids.
“We are still in the early stage of the whole process and as time goes on things will get clearer as to the stadiums Nigeria will present to host the matches, ” he said.
Nigeria has hosted the AFCON twice in the past with the first being in 1980. The country partly hosted the tournament twenty years later in 2000 and has not hosted any edition ever since.
