Ivory Coast will host the Continental Championship in 2023, but the venues for 2025 and 2027 have not yet been decided
Nigeria and Benin Republic are the frontrunners to win the right to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reported.
Nigeria and neighboring Benin Republic have emerged as the front-runners to jointly bid to host the 36th AFCON, according to a statement from the Nigeria Football Association.
The Confederation of African Football Executive Committee is scheduled to vote on the bid for the 2025 and 2027 AFCONs on Wednesday, September 27, 2023.
The final decision on the organizers will be made in a future vote at the Cairo Marriott Hotel in the Zamalek district of downtown Cairo.
Morocco is almost certain to host the 2025 finals, with a joint bid by Nigeria and Benin, and other bidders including Senegal, Egypt and Botswana, as well as Uganda, Kenya and The stage is set for competition through a tripartite agreement with Tanzania. event.
However, Algeria, originally a strong candidate to host the tournament in 2027, abruptly withdrew from the tournament on Tuesday morning, completely changing the dynamics of the tournament.
Guinea was originally chosen to host the 2025 finals, but in its preparations for the Games faced insurmountable challenges, including unmanned infrastructure and facilities, which were exacerbated by the change in government. did.
As a result, CAF stripped Guinea of its hosting rights.
Nigeria has a great choice of stadiums including MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja, Adokie Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, and Stephen Keshi Stadium in Lagos. doing. Asaba, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City and Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
In the Republic of Benin, Stade Mathieu Kerekou in Cotonou and Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo were added to the list.
Nigeria, which has a checkered football history, hosted and won the 12th AFCON in 1980 and hosted the 22nd knockout tournament with Ghana in 2000.
Nigeria’s official delegation consisting of Minister of Sports Development John Owan Enoh, Permanent Secretary Ismaila Abubakar, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Secretary General Mohammed Sanusi and Mainasara Iroh Project Coordinator arrived on Tuesday evening. did. In Cairo. Also present were his FIFA Council member of Nigeria and his CAF Executive Committee member Amaju and Melvin Pinnick.
The bid between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin attracted much attention during talks held at CAF headquarters in Cairo on October 6. Mathurin De Chacus is currently the President of the Benoise Football Federation.
On Wednesday, each candidate country will have the opportunity to make a 10-minute presentation before the CAF Executive Committee votes on the independent evaluation committee’s report.
Veteran broadcaster and seasoned bid activist Mainasara Iro defends the Nigeria/Benin bid.
The Super Eagles won the AFCON in 2013, building on their wins in 1994 and 1980.
