Nigeria’s Flying Eagles have been thrown into uncertainty following the shocking withdrawal of Ivory Coast as hosts of the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations—just 30 days before kickoff.
The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) announced the decision on Tuesday, sending shockwaves across African football and forcing CAF into a last-minute scramble for a new host nation.
Ivory Coast, confirmed as hosts only in December 2024, had earned their spot in the tournament after initially failing to qualify.
Preparations were already underway under newly appointed head coach Younes Zerdouk, but everything came to a halt following a directive from the Ivorian government.
“By this letter, President Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of the FIF, President of COCAN U-20, informs you that, by official letter, the Government has notified the Ivorian Football Federation of the withdrawal of Côte d’Ivoire as host country of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations,” read a statement from FIF to CAF.
The sudden withdrawal is a major blow to CAF, which is already facing calendar disruptions in 2025, with the African Nations Championship (CHAN) pushed from February to August.
The U-20 AFCON is now at risk of postponement unless a replacement host is urgently secured.
One possible alternative is Morocco, which is set to host the U-17 AFCON beginning this weekend.
With established infrastructure and the Moroccan U-20 team already qualified, the North African nation may once again step in as African football’s emergency host.
For Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, the development has disrupted their tournament plans.
The Flying Eagles are currently in a training camp in Katsina as they continue the first phase of their final build-up to the tournament.
However, until CAF announces a new host, Nigeria and other participating teams remain in limbo.
