During the Independence Day Celebration in Nigeria, Saturday, 1 October, the Executive Committee of the Confédération Africaine de Football(CAF) met in Algiers, Algeria to announce the re-opening of bids for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
Guinea who were supposed to host Africa’s prestigious tournament were stripped of the hosting rights to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following the visit of Patrice Motsepe (CAF President) to Conakry on Friday where he met with the interim president, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya who could not assure the country’s readiness to host Africa in 2025.
This development has paved way for countries like Nigeria who wish to host the African Nations Cup in 2025 to now submit their bids.
Nigeria has only previously hosted AFCON twice and will be hoping to make it thrice come 2025.
The first time was in 1980 where Otta Gloria’s Green Eagles defeated the Desert Foxes of Algeria 3-0 in the final played at the National Stadium Lagos with the legendary Segun Odegbami bagging a brace.
The second time was in 2000 when the country co-hosted with West African neighbors Ghana after Zimbabwe was displaced by CAF for non-compliance with the tournament’s specifications.
This time, the Super Eagles of Nigeria reached the final but lost 4-3 on penalties to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon after the game ended 2-2 after extra time.
Is Nigeria ready to host the 2025 AFCON? That’s the question on the minds of every Nigerian so far.
One of the reasons Guinea were not able to host Africa’s prestigious tournament was down to inadequate infrastructure and facilities to host a 24 team tournament.
Nigeria could be said to have these infrastructural facilities although most not of high quality.
The major requirement in hosting an AFCON tournament is functioning stadiums which are approved/recognized by CAF and FIFA.
Nigeria has a number of them which fall under that criteria, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Moshood Abiola National Stadium Abuja, Adokie Amiesimaka International stadium in Port Harcourt, the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin and Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo are stadiums which have been accredited by CAF and FIFA.
The newly commissioned 18,000 capacity Eket Stadium in AkwaIbom could also be considered come 2025.
Nigeria would however need to upgrade the facilities in these stadiums to ensure maximum quality if given hosting rights.
Another pressing issue that faces Nigeria is insecurity.
The rate at which violence and insecurity were reported during the course of last season’s NPFL campaign was alarming.
If adequate security wasn’t provided for league players, staff, fans and officials, what is the guarantee it will cover a tournament where so many persons will be involved.
Nigeria has to step up its game with regards to security issues to give assurance to all involved of their safety if given hosting rights.
We have looked at some major facets/areas in which Nigeria need to improve to attain the hosting rights of the AFCON 2025, now let’s see the benefits of hosting the AFCON 2025.
There would be quality development in the country. An AFCON tournament would lead to massive development as Nigeria will be trying to meet up with the expectation of the the competition and try as much as possible to accommodate all involved.
There would be improvement in the transport sector as fans will need to be transported from one place to another, quality hotels and viewing centers will also be set up across the country and this development will give set Nigeria on the global stage and it will attract investors and sponsors from all over.
Another advantage of hosting Africa’s prestigious tournament is revenue and income for the people and the nation.
During the AFCON 2025 there would be a massive influx of people from all over Africa and beyond who would come to witness football on Africa’s greatest stage.
These persons would have needs and wants and would purchase goods and services from citizens of the country which would create added revenue for the people of Nigeria.
Only time will tell if Nigeria will be the hosts of Africa’s prestigious tournament come 2025.
Before the AFCON 2025, there would be an AFCON 2023 which will be hosted by the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in January 2024. It was moved from June-July 2023 due to weather conditions during that period in Ivory Coast.
ABIAZIEM OLISA
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