Nigeria’s bid to co-host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027 with the Benin Republic is unsuccessful, as the hosting honour for the 2027 tournament has instead been awarded to a trio of East African nations – Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
This development follows the visit of Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, to Egypt earlier this week.
Alongside representatives from the Nigeria Football Federation, they presented their bid to host AFCON in 2027, but it ultimately fell short.
Nigeria has a rich history with the AFCON tournament, having previously hosted it in 1980. During that memorable event, the nation celebrated victory, led by Christian Chukwu, in front of passionate home fans, including then-President Shehu Shagari.
Nigeria’s more recent hosting of the AFCON was jointly with Ghana. Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions clinched the trophy against Nigeria at the National Stadium in Lagos.