By Monica Iheakam
Nigeria is in a favourable position to host the 2025 African Cup of Nations, the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick disclosed this yesterday in Lagos.
Speaking at the Sheraton Hotels, Ikeja, Pinnick revealed that CAF is likely to withdraw the hosting right of the 2025 AFCON from Guinea.
“We are putting a bid together for a co-hosting of the tournament with Benin Republic. And the Minister of Youth and Sports has given his endorsement on the bidding.
“It is high time Nigeria host an international tournament because there are many advantages attached to hosting of such competitions,” he said.
The NFF added; “There are many countries bidding for the competition but we are confident of getting the nod from CAF.
“We are working with the Ministry of Youth and Sports to ensure that Nigeria gets the hosting right,” Pinnick stressed.
Nigeria first hosted and won the Nations Cup in 1980 led by Brazilian coach Otto Gloria.
The Green Eagles as they were known then, beat Algeria 3-0 in the final, they later would lose to the same Desert Foxes 1-0 ten years after in Algiers
The second time Nigeria staged the prestigious competition was in 2000 when it co-hosted with West African neighbour, Ghana; that being the first African Cup of nations tournament to ever hold within two countries
