Several countries want to recover the organization of CAN 2025. Besides Algeria, Morocco is a favorite. Nigeria and Benin submitted a joint application.
They still have two weeks to make their intentions and guarantees known. Countries wishing to position themselves to organize the African Cup of Nations (CAN) 2025 advance their pawns. While Guinea's transitional authorities seemed sure of themselves for the organization of the competition, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has decided to withdraw its CAN from Guinea, three years before the competition. "Guinea will be able to apply with other competing nations for the organization of the African Nations Championship (CHAN) which will take place after the edition in Algeria, given the decision of CAF not to organize the CAN TotalEnergies 2025 in Guinea”, simply indicated CAF boss Patrice Motsepe during a trip to Conakry almost two months ago.
Very quickly, Algeria, which will therefore organize the CHAN, has positioned itself. CAF did not seem in a hurry to designate the host country. “We will very quickly define a process and set a deadline for submitting applications, then another to announce the name of the country that will host the tournament. Everything should be decided at the end of 2022 or the beginning of 2023”, indicated the governing bodies of African football. Algeria has the required infrastructure and therefore holds the rope. But other countries would also like to apply. This is the case of Morocco, South Africa, the only African country to have hosted a World Cup, and Nigeria.
Morocco in ambush
CAF, of which leaders are currently enjoying the World Cup, has known the countries concerned since 11 November last. Each country that applied had to declare its interest and must, in two weeks, have provided the necessary guarantees. The Algerian Football Federation (FAF) has sent a complete file and intends to win the bet.
Morocco, which is always quoted when replacing a nation at short notice – the kingdom had been mentioned when it came to questioning the Cameroonian organization during the last CAN – wants to dampen Algerian hopes. An eminently political gesture. Especially since the boss of Moroccan football has been in Motsepe's small papers since the latter's election to the presidency of CAF.
Outsider, Nigeria is also on the starting blocks, as expected, but jointly with Benin. South Africa, it does not seem to be interested, finally. Even if other countries could have submitted their candidacy without announcing it publicly. CAF will begin a series of visits to the pre-selected countries in early January 2023.