CAF President Confirms Nigeria’s Bid To Host 2025 AFCON

 Patrice Motsepe, the president of Con­federation of Afri­ca Football (CAF), has confirmed Nigeria’s joint bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. 

As he evaluated the perfor­mances of the five continental flag bearers to the just finished FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Motsepe made a suggestion that Algeria, Benin, Morocco, and Zambia are the other coun­tries interested in hosting the continent’s main championship.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Foot­ball Federation (NFF) is having trouble with the proposal and paperwork, rumors are rife that Nigeria may file a joint offer with the neighboring Republic of Benin.

“The joint bid between Nige­ria and Benin for the 2025 AF­CON is real and we (NFF) along with her Beninese counterpart expected to submit bid docu­ments in a few days, a source who pleaded anonymity said. 

Of course, some other Afri­can countries are also interested but the Nigeria –Benin joint bid is a fascinating prospect.”

Motsepe continued, “There is a good probability an African country will play in the World Cup final match of 2026 given Morocco’s remarkable perfor­mance, notably in Qatar 2022.”

He asserted that Senegal, Cameroon, Tunisia and Ghana all gave amazing performanc­es, and that Morocco’s historic triumphs and its advancement to the semi-finals also greatly pleased CAF.

“Morocco opened the door by reaching the semi-finals this month and I am confident an African nation will go further at the next World Cup,” Motsepe noted. 

The main objective of CAF (Confederation of African Foot­ball) is for an African nation to win the World Cup and that goal is within reach.”

He added in a statement post­ed on the CAF website: “The 54 African countries who are members of CAF are extremely proud and inspired by the vic­tories and successes of the five African Nations that represent­ed CAF at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. 

We are also particularly proud of Morocco’s historic qual­ification to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.

” It is the first time in the his­tory of the FIFA World Cup that an African Nation has qualified for the semi-finals.

“I would like to express our deep gratitude to the players (Les Lions de l’Atlas), the techni­cal team, the Fédération Royale Marocaine de Football under the outstanding leadership of President Fouzi Lekjaa, the peo­ple of Morocco and His Royal Highness King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him.”

“Our objective of ensuring that an African Nation wins the FIFA World Cup is alive and within reach.”