CAF Snubs Nigeria’s Bid to Host AFCON 2027

*Morocco to host AFCON 2025 while Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya co-host in 2027

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Nigeria’s dream of co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament with neighbors Benin Republic failed to fly yesterday as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) voted for the joint bid of Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya to stage that edition.

The country’s delegation led by Sports Minister, Senator John Owan Enoh and the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau and other senior football personalities, made a presentation of the joint bid to CAF yesterday but the executive committee members appear unimpressed.

CAF instead settled for the East Africans to host the 2027 edition.

After Algeria pulled out of contention to host AFCON 2027, the Nigeria/Benin Republic joint bid faced serious competitions from other interested countries like Senegal, Egypt, Botswana  and the tripartite bid by Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

Nigeria’s only time as host of the AFCON was in 1980 when Christian Chukwu led the Green Eagles to win the title in front of passionate home fans, including former President Shehu Shagari at the National Stadium I’m Lagos. 

The joint hosting with Ghana in 2000 ended in tears for Eagles as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions ran away with the trophy at the same Sportscity in Lagos.

For the 2025 edition, Morocco scaled the hurdle to host with no competition from any other country.

With several modern facilities scattered all over Morocco and also flaunting the Atlas Lions semi final finish at the last World Cup in Qatar, the North African nation were sure-bet to get the nod and that was what CAF executive committee members did.

The North African country amassed 22 votes for their bid to be successful.

Morocco staged the 1988 AFCON.