The Confederation of Africa Soccer (CAF) is at the moment seeking a brand new host for the upcoming 2025 Below-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), following the sudden withdrawal of Ivory Coast from its internet hosting duties.
This vital change comes because the 2025 Below-20 AFCON is scheduled to happen from April 26 to Might 18, 2025, leaving Nigeria’s Below-20 nationwide crew, the Flying Eagles in a state of uncertainty.
To arrange for the event, the Flying Eagles are at the moment engaged in an intensive coaching camp in Katsina, the place they’re below the skilled steerage of head coach Aliyu Zubairu. The crew is targeted on honing their abilities and constructing synergy in anticipation of the aggressive challenges that lie forward.
The Ivorian Soccer Federation (FIF) introduced the choice to step down as hosts a couple of weeks earlier than the event, though the precise causes for this withdrawal haven’t been disclosed.
In an official assertion, the president of the FIF, Yacine Idriss Diallo, introduced, “By official letter, the Authorities notified the Ivorian Soccer Federation (FIF) of the withdrawal of Côte d’Ivoire because the host nation of the Below-20 African Cup of Nations.”
This abrupt determination poses a major problem for CAF which should now rapidly establish an alternate host in lower than a month.
The sudden withdrawal additionally heightens considerations relating to the group of the broader 2025 calendar, notably with the African Nations Championship (CHAN) already rescheduled from February to August 2025.
With time operating brief, CAF is below strain to make sure that the Below-20 AFCON goes forward as deliberate with out additional delays.
In the meantime, the Flying Eagles are gearing as much as compete in Group B of the event, the place they’ll face formidable opponents together with former champions Egypt and Morocco, in addition to South Africa.
