Algeria will opt to host 2025 AFCON in place of Guinea

• Algeria will bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after Guinea revoked hosting rights.
• CAF president Patrice Motsepe says “around ten countries” are interested in replacing Guinea.
• Past hosts Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal could be among potential bidders.

Algeria’s football chief Zefizef Djahid announced on Saturday that his country will bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after Guinea’s hosting rights were revoked.

During the draw ceremony for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in an Algiers opera house, he declared, “Algeria will be candidates to host the 2025 AFCON.”

Patrice Motsepe, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), stated on Saturday that Guinea would not host the 2025 edition because they were “not ready to do so.”

The West African nation, one of the poorest on the continent, has only one stadium of international quality when the Cup of Nations requires six.

The Cup of Nations, which began in 1957 as a three-team competition in Sudan, will have 24 teams during the 2019 finals in Egypt.

Motsepe stated at a news conference in the capital of Algeria prior to the CHAN draw that “around ten countries” are interested in replacing Guinea.

“What I can assure you is that we are not going to choose a country that is not at an adequate level to meet our quality standards.”

Motsepe did not identify the potential bidders, but AFP has learned that past hosts Morocco, Nigeria, and Senegal could be among those interested.

“No nation favored” for 2025 AFCON

“I can assure you that there is no country in Africa that is going to be favored” Motsepe emphasized, ostensibly in response to claims that he favors Morocco.

The CAF chief recently stated to AFP, “The only reason Morocco has hosted CAF competitions is because it is the only country willing to do so.”

“Our bidding process is open to all 54 member nations and sometimes we stretch the deadline to encourage multiple candidates, but only Morocco delivers a formal bid.”

Morocco has world-class facilities and infrastructure and recently hosted the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, which drew audiences of more than 40,000 for several matches.

The kingdom will host the eight-team CAF Women’s Champions League later this year and the men’s Olympic qualifying tournament for the 2024 Paris Games the following year.

According to reports, a Moroccan official stated that his nation “would consider” submitting a proposal to host the elite African football competition for the first time since 1988.

Amaju Pinnick, the departing head of football for Nigeria, recently recommended that his country and its neighbor Benin should submit a combined bid.

Nigeria hosted and won the Cup of Nations in 1980, and they finished second when they co-hosted with Ghana in 2000.

Algeria also hosted and won the Cup of Nations in 1990, defeating Nigeria in the final. Senegal was the host in 1992.

The finals of the 2024 Cup of Nations are scheduled for January and February and will be held by Ivory Coast in 2024.

Also Read

Guinea will not host 2025 Africa Cup of Nations”: CAF President Patrice Motsepe

Guinea will not host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. CAF President...