Nigeria, Benin Express Interest To Host 2025 AFCON

Nigeria and Benin have submitted a joint bid to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025.  

Others are Algeria, Zambia and Morocco, who became the first African nation to reach the World Cup semi-final in Qatar.

Nigeria, whose national team reached the AFCON semi-finals in 2019 and exited in the round of 16 this term, previously co-hosted the competition with Ghana in 2000. They only staged the competition as a singular in 1980.

“Having completed all the processes, we submitted our bid before the Confederation of African Football (CAF) deadline of 16 December,” a Nigeria official told BBC Sport Africa.

“The NFF will be sharing more information on the bid to stage the tournament in the coming weeks.”

The Confederation of African football (CAF) are looking for the new host after designated host Guinea was stripped of rights earlier this year because of concerns over infrastructure and facility-issues.

Zambia, from the tip of the continent and winners in 2012, have confirmed in its statement that they would want to host the tournament.

“We believe our bid stands a very good chance given that southern Africa has not hosted any Nations Cup since the 2013 edition staged by South Africa,” the Zambian FA (Faz) said in a statement.

“On our part, we already have two CAF-certified venues in the National Heroes and Levy Mwanawasa (stadiums) while four other existing stadia will be upgraded to at least 15,000- and 20,000-capacity.”

The successful candidate to host the 24-team finals is set to be announced in February.