Previously, Nigeria and Ghana shared hosting duties for the AFCON finals in 2000
Inspectors from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) have inspected the venues that Nigeria has suggested for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, despite the fact that Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the first vice-president of the Nigeria Football Federation, earlier dismissed the nation's hosting aspirations.
There were rumours before the end of last year that Nigeria and the Benin Republic would submit a combined bid to host the AFCON in 2025, but the NFF's first vice president flat-out denied these reports.
According to previous reports by Soccernet.ng, Ayansi-Agwu claimed that they (NFF) are not aware of a joint bid for the hosting rights of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with the Benin Republic,
“I am not aware of such a bid by Nigeria. In fact, I am just hearing this information for the first time,” he stated, as cited by The Guardian.
In a startling turn of events, Nigeria and its neighbour Benin Republic have submitted a joint bid to host the biennial tournament.
Three months after dismissing the hosting reports, the NFF announced that the CAF team had examined the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, and the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
AFCON 2025 Bid: CAF-appointed team inspects Nigeria’s stadia facilities –
Inspectors appointed by CAF are in Nigeria to inspect stadiums and related facilities that Nigeria has put forward in a joint bid with Benin Republic to host the 35th AFCON in 2025. pic.twitter.com/zJfiLDeLYt
— The NFF 🇳🇬 (@thenff) April 2, 2023
According to further NFF announcements, the team also toured the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City. The CAF delegation was joined by representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The Stadium Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo, in the Benin Republic, will also be assessed by the inspectors.
