Breaking: Nigeria, Benin Republic Lose 2027 AFCON Co-hosting Bid

Nigeria’s hopes of co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Benin Republic went crashing down on Wednesday afternoon as the Confederation of African Football elected to hand the hosting rights of the tournament to the Eastern African nations of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda, Prime Business Africa reports.

The Nigerian delegation comprising of the Sports minister, John Enoh, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar; President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau; General Secretary of NFF, Mohammed Sanusi and; Project Coordinator, Mainasara Illo, and joined by Nigeria’s FIFA Council Member and Member of the CAF Executive Committee, Amaju Melvin Pinnick put together a great effort in bidding for the tournament.

However, the men left the Cairo Marriott Hotel, venue of the CAF Executive Committee meeting disappointed by the decision of CAF.

The awarding of the hosting rights to East African countries means the tournament will return to the African region after 51 years when Ethiopia hosted in 1976.

Significantly, it was the time that the the 2025 hosts, Morocco won the competition which was the first and the only one played throughout using the league format.

The East African bid upstaged the joint bid of Nigeria and Benin, which appeared dead on arrival, even before the votes.

Also beaten were those of Botswana, Egypt and Senegal. Algeria were also a candidate but withdrew on Tuesday.

Kenya had previously been awarded the hosting in 1996 but were stripped because of poor preparation. South Africa got in as a replacement.

Kenya only recently had a long FIFA ban for government interference in the running of their football federation lifted.