By Dayo Awoniyi
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been thrown into disarray following Ivory Coast’s unexpected withdrawal as the host of the 24th edition of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled for April 26 to May 18, 2025.
The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced the decision on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, citing a letter from the Ivorian government, which stated that hosting the tournament was no longer feasible.
The withdrawal has left CAF racing against time to identify a new host for the prestigious tournament. CAF President Yacine Idriss Diallo expressed his regret over the situation, apologizing for the incident and extending gratitude to those involved in the preparations.
While the specific reasons for Ivory Coast’s withdrawal remain unclear, speculation points to logistical and financial challenges as the likely causes.
This sudden development underscores the complexities involved in organizing major sporting events. With the U-20 AFCON just weeks away, CAF is now under pressure to secure an alternative host and ensure the tournament proceeds as planned.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
