The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has been dealt a significant blow following Ivory Coast’s withdrawal as the host nation for the 2025 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The unexpected decision comes just weeks before the tournament’s scheduled kickoff, as reported by AfricaSoccer.com.
On March 25, 2025, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) officially announced the withdrawal, citing the government’s declaration of the “impossibility of hosting” in an official letter. While the precise reasons remain undisclosed, there is growing speculation that financial constraints and logistical difficulties played a role in the decision.
Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of FIF and head of the tournament’s organizing committee, expressed deep regret over the development. Despite the setback, he extended his gratitude to everyone who had contributed to the preparations and reassured stakeholders that CAF would soon outline its next course of action.
Originally set to take place from April 26 to May 18, 2025, the tournament now faces uncertainty, with CAF urgently seeking a new host to prevent disruption to the competition.
Meanwhile, Ghana, one of the qualified teams, is currently in Morocco preparing for the tournament as discussions continue on the future of the event.
