Algiers, Algeria- The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has stripped Guinea of its right to host the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025.
On Friday CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, had a meeting with Guinea’s junta leader, Colonel Mamadi Doumbouya to discuss the withdrawal by CAF.
According to the CAF president, the withdrawal from CAF was due to Guinea’s infrastructure and facilities which he said are not ready to host a world-class AFCON competition.
“I visited Guinea today out of respect to the people of Guinea to discuss CAF’s willingness to advise and work together with the football stakeholders to construct and build football infrastructure and facilities in this country. This will enable Guinea to bid with other competing Nations for the African Nations Championships (CHAN) which will take place after the CHAN to be hosted by Algeria in 2023, in the light of the decision by CAF not to proceed with the TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 in Guinea,” said Motsepe.
As a result, the CAF Executive Committee on Saturday re-opened the bidding process to host the continental tourney.
At the same time, the Executive Committee held the final draw for the CHAN, which will take place in five venues across the four cities of Algiers, Oran, Annaba and Constantine.
Hosts Algeria is in Group A alongside Ethiopia, Libya (2014 champions) and Mozambique and will be hoping to emulate Morocco, who won it on home soil, while 2020 beaten finalists Mali, who also lost the 2016 final, have Angola and Mauritania in Group D.
The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), two-time winners in 2009 and 2016, have Uganda, Ivory Coast and Senegal in Group B while 2020 hosts Cameroon face Congo and Niger in Group E.
“This CHAN competition that will be held in January will be the best in the history of this competition. There is a huge amount of excitement in Algeria and Africa has over the years produced some of the best players, such as Riyad Mahrez of Manchester City, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, (Didier) Drogba the list goes on.
Part of our objective as CAF is to build toward an African nation being the champions of the world and winning the Fifa World Cup and this country (Algeria) is one of the many that have the potential to do that now and over time,” said Motsepe.
Group A: Algeria, Libya, Ethiopia and Mozambique.
Group B: DRC, Uganda, Cote D’Ivoire and Senegal.
Group C: Morocco, Sudan, Madagascar and Ghana.
Group D: Mali, Angola and Mauritania.
Group E: Cameroon, Congo and Niger.
