The President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), on Wednesday confirmed to Newsmen that the association has indicated interest to co-host the African Cup of Nations with Benin Republic come 2025.
Amaju Pinnick while speaking at the side-lines of an event at the Sheraton Hotel Lagos to mark the 50th anniversary of Teslim Balogun, told reporters he indicated the interest to CAF via a Zoom meeting held on Tuesday.
Clariform reports that the 2025 African sports events have already been awarded to Guinea as the host.
However, with worsening security situations in the West African country, it seems unlikely that Guinea will be able to host the tournament after Cote D’ Voire hosts the next edition in 2023.
The NFF President also noted that the bid will be a joint bid with Benin Republic, Nigerian closest Neighbour to the West of the country.
Nigeria first hosted the African Cup of Nations in 1980. Incidentally, 1980 was the first time the country would win the trophy with the then Green Eagles as the national team was then called.
The team paraded stars like the mathematical Segun Odegbami, Christian Chukwu, Amasiemeka and many others.
After 1980, Nigerian was to host the tournament again in the year 2000 where the nation’s star studded Super Eagles lost the final match against Cameroon in a controversial penalty shoot out after 120 minutes failed to produce a winner.
If CAF withdraws the hosting rights from Guinea over security concerns, will CAF be justified to hand same rights to Nigeria whose security challenges is fast becoming worrisome with bandits coming closer to the FCT.
It remains to be seen how the NFF will manage to convince CAF and other African nations not to bother about the Nigerian security challenges while worrying about Guinea.
