EXCLUSIVE: Nigeria’s Readiness to Host AFCON 2025 and its Benefits

In the course of the Independence Day Celebration in Nigeria, Saturday, 1 October, the Govt Committee of the Confédération Africaine de Soccer(CAF) met in Algiers, Algeria to announce the re-opening of bids for the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations 2025.

Guinea who had been alleged to host Africa’s prestigious match had been stripped of the internet hosting rights to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, following the go to of Patrice Motsepe (CAF President) to Conakry on Friday the place he met with the interim president, Colonel Mamady Doumbouya who couldn’t guarantee the nation’s readiness to host Africa in 2025.

This improvement has paved manner for nations like Nigeria who want to host the African Nations Cup in 2025 to now submit their bids.

Nigeria has solely beforehand hosted AFCON twice and shall be hoping to make it thrice come 2025.

The primary time was in 1980 the place Otta Gloria’s Inexperienced Eagles defeated the Desert Foxes of Algeria 3-0 within the closing performed on the Nationwide Stadium Lagos with the legendary Segun Odegbami bagging a brace.

The second time was in 2000 when the nation co-hosted with West African neighbors Ghana after Zimbabwe was displaced by CAF for non-compliance with the match’s specs.

This time, the Tremendous Eagles of Nigeria reached the ultimate however misplaced 4-3 on penalties to the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon after the sport ended 2-2 after further time.

Is Nigeria able to host the 2025 AFCON? That’s the query on the minds of each Nigerian to this point.

One of many causes Guinea weren’t in a position to host Africa’s prestigious match was right down to insufficient infrastructure and amenities to host a 24 group match.

Nigeria might be mentioned to have these infrastructural amenities though most not of top of the range.

The foremost requirement in internet hosting an AFCON match is functioning stadiums that are authorised/acknowledged by CAF and FIFA.

Nigeria has a variety of them which fall underneath that standards, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, Moshood Abiola Nationwide Stadium Abuja, Adokie Amiesimaka Worldwide stadium in Port Harcourt, the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin and Akwa Ibom Worldwide Stadium, Uyo are stadiums which have been accredited by CAF and FIFA.

The newly commissioned 18,000 capability Eket Stadium in AkwaIbom is also thought-about come 2025.

Nigeria would nevertheless must improve the amenities in these stadiums to make sure most high quality if given internet hosting rights.

One other urgent concern that faces Nigeria is insecurity.

The speed at which violence and insecurity had been reported throughout the course of final season’s NPFL marketing campaign was alarming.

If sufficient safety wasn’t offered for league gamers, employees, followers and officers, what’s the assure it’s going to cowl a match the place so many individuals shall be concerned.

Nigeria has to step up its recreation with reference to safety points to offer assurance to all concerned of their security if given internet hosting rights.

We have now checked out some main aspects/areas wherein Nigeria want to enhance to achieve the internet hosting rights of the AFCON 2025, now let’s see the advantages of internet hosting the AFCON 2025.

There could be high quality improvement within the nation. An AFCON match would result in large improvement as Nigeria shall be attempting to fulfill up with the expectation of the the competitors and take a look at as a lot as doable to accommodate all concerned.

There could be enchancment within the transport sector as followers will must be transported from one place to a different, high quality resorts and viewing facilities can even be arrange throughout the nation and this improvement will give set Nigeria on the worldwide stage and it’ll entice traders and sponsors from throughout.

One other benefit of internet hosting Africa’s prestigious match is income and earnings for the individuals and the nation.

In the course of the AFCON 2025 there could be a large inflow of individuals from throughout Africa and past who would come to witness soccer on Africa’s best stage.

These individuals would have wants and desires and would buy items and companies from residents of the nation which might create added income for the individuals of Nigeria.

Solely time will inform if Nigeria would be the hosts of Africa’s prestigious match come 2025.

Earlier than the AFCON 2025, there could be an AFCON 2023 which shall be hosted by the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire in January 2024. It was moved from June-July 2023 as a consequence of climate situations throughout that interval in Ivory Coast.

ABIAZIEM OLISA