Youth and Sports Minister Mustapha Ussif has divulged that Ghana is exploring the possibility of teaming up with Benin and Nigeria to launch a joint bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).
West African neighbours Guinea were recently stripped of the hosting by the Confederation of African Football (Caf) who have gone ahead to re-open the bidding process.
On October 26, Caf sent a notice to Member Associations to declare their interest in hosting the Afcon with an accompanying timeline for the process that will be followed in the selection of the new host country or countries.
A couple of months ago, there were rumours of co-hosting intentions by cross-border neighbours Nigeria and Benin.
Now it appears Ghana could be interested in joining the fray for a joint bid involving three countries as hosts of the continent’s 24-team flagship football competition.
“There’s a discussion that Ghana should bid with the likes of Nigeria and Benin.
“We are still considering it. We have not taken a decision yet but there is that discussion that we should get sister countries so that we can put in that bid,” Hon. Ussif is quoted as telling Citi Sports.
Should the joint bid concretize, these three countries along the West coast – Ghana, Benin and Nigeria – must respond to Caf’s recent notice with a declaration of interest by November 11.
This process will see the new hosts determined by Caf on February 10, 2023,
Ghana and Nigeria co-hosted the Afcon in 2000.
Afcon 2025 Bidding Process Timeline:
- November 11, 2022: Deadline for submitting the Declaration of Interest form
- November 16, 2022: Deadline for Caf to send the hosting documents to Member Associations that have declared their interest.
- December 16, 2022: Deadline for Member Associations to submit their final bid, including all bidding and hosting documents (hosting agreement, host cities agreement, Government guarantees)
- January 5-25, 2023: Inspection visits
- February 10, 2023: Appointment of Host Country/Countries by the Caf Executive Committee
