AFCON Finals
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria’s President, is set to attend the final match of the 2023 AFCON, according to Patrice Motsepe, President of the Confederation of African Football.
Motsepe’s announcement has sparked discussions about Nigeria’s potential bid for the FIFA World Cup.
Scheduled for Sunday, February 11, at 9 p.m., the final showdown between Ivory Coast, the host nation of the 2023 AFCON, and Nigeria’s Super Eagles will unfold at the Alassanne Ouattara Stadium in Ebimpe, Abidjan.
Initially, reports hinted at the presence of Nigeria’s Vice President, Kashim Shettima, at the final, especially after he attended the thrilling semi-final match where the Super Eagles clinched victory over South Africa via penalties on Wednesday, February 7.
During a press conference held at the Palace de la Culture in Trechville, Abidjan, on Friday, reporters quizzed Motsepe about the prospects of another African country hosting the FIFA World Cup. Motsepe, a prominent South African football administrator, suggested that Nigeria should consider submitting a bid.
Motsepe emphasized, “Nigeria must put in a bid. The Nigerian president (Bola Tinubu) is coming to watch the final on Sunday. I will have a conversation with him about it.”
CAF
It’s worth recalling that the last African country to host the FIFA World Cup was South Africa in 2010. Since then, subsequent editions have been held in Brazil, Russia, and Qatar.
The forthcoming edition of the tournament (2026) is scheduled across three countries in North America: Mexico, the United States, and Canada.
Looking ahead, FIFA has granted hosting rights for the 2030 edition to Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.
The opening match of the 2030 World Cup will take place in Uruguay, with Argentina and Paraguay also hosting their opening matches in their respective countries.
Therefore, the 2030 FIFA World Cup, marking the tournament’s centennial celebration, will be the inaugural edition hosted across three continents simultaneously: South America, Europe, and Africa.
The hosting rights for the 2034 World Cup have already been awarded to Saudi Arabia, making the 2038 FIFA World Cup the most probable edition to be hosted in Africa.
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