Nigeria bids to Co-Host 2025 AFCON with Benin Republic

Nigeria is considering co-hosting the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament with west African neighbour Benin Republic.

According to the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick, Guinea has been scheduled to host the tournament that year, but the political crisis in the country could see them lose the hosting rights.

Amaju Pinnick said he has officially notified CAF that Nigeria is interested in co-hosting the tournament with Benin Republic.

It is almost 13 years since the country last hosted any major football tournament, and Pinnick says he notified the Confederation of African Football of Nigeria’s desire to host the tournament.

The NFF boss made this known at the 50th anniversary of the famous Teslim Balogun Stadium as he claimed that Nigeria has already thrown her hat into the ring as CAF compiles a list of other countries also interested. West African neighbour Cameroon hosted the last edition, and Ivory Coast is scheduled to host the next edition slated for January 2024. Although Guinea has been listed to host the 2025 edition, there are strong indications that the political instability in the country could force CAF to move the tournament elsewhere.

#Nigeria football federation boss Amaju Pinnick says they plan to stage the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations – but organisers insists #Guinea will host.

Nigeria have problems of their own😬

Latest for @BBCAfrica 👇https://t.co/MfQSr692yU

— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) July 27, 2022

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Pinnick said, Nigeria will be able to stage the tournament. “We don’t know for now other countries that have submitted bids.” Just like it happened in 2000 when Nigeria staged the event alongside Ghana, the NFF president said the bid will be a joint hosting with the Republic of Benin. Meanwhile, CAF has postponed the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast to January and February 2024.

The tournament was initially slated for June and July 2023, but CAF had to move it to 2024 due to the unfavourable weather conditions around that time in Ivory Coast.