KEHINDE FAJOBI
The Confederation of African Football (CAF), on Thursday announced it had stripped Guinea of hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
CAF in a statement made available to the media said Guinea was stripped of the hosting rights after an inspection revealed that facilities would not be ready in time for the competition.
Guinea was earlier announced as the hosts for the 2025 AFCON on November 30, 2018, however, the Executive Committee had now approved the decision to withdraw the hosting rights.
The report read, “The Executive Committee was unanimous that Guinea will not be ready to host the competition.
“The Executive Committee took a unanimous decision based on the report as submitted that the tournament be withdrawn from Guinea.
“The President suggested that a delegation be sent to Guinea to inform them of the decision taken by EXCO.
“Resolution: The Executive Committee resolved to send a delegation to Guinea to inform them of CAF’s decision to withdraw the Africa Cup of Nations Guinea 2025 from Guinea,” CAF noted in a release made available to the media.
Recall that Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), weeks ago had said CAF was likely to strip Guinea of the 2025 AFCON hosting rights, However, the claim was refuted by CAF.
The NFF President hinted that Nigeria would put in a bid to host the competition with neighbouring Benin Republic.
Pinnick said, “We are putting a bid together for a co-hosting of the tournament with the Benin Republic.
“The Minister of Sports has a given his endorsement on the bidding.
“It is high time Nigeria hosted an international tournament because there are many advantages attached to hosting of such competitions.
“There are many countries bidding for the competition; we are confident of getting the nod from CAF.
“We are working with the ministry of sports to ensure that Nigeria gets the hosting right.”