NIGERIA has failed in its bid to jointly host the 2027 edition of Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside neigbours, Benin Republic.
The West African nation learnt of its unsuccessful bid on Wednesday.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has, instead, awarded the hosting right to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, who jointly bid.
The decision means East Africa hosts the tourney for the first time since 1976 when Ethiopia hosted the finals.
Recall that CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, insisted that the tournament should not be consecutively hosted by the same region.
This comes after Morocco secured the hosting rights of the 2025 finals.
“We cannot assign the organisation of the CAN successively to the same region,” Motsepe announced at a press conference before the African Nations Championship (CHAN) held last January in Algeria.
Meanwhile, Algeria sensationally withdrew its bid to host the 2027 finals.
Its withdraw played a big part in helping secure the joint bid by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Meanwhile, Ivory Coast will host the 2023 AFCON t be held in January and February 2024.
The date of the tourney was postponed as CAF explained that it “could not risk the tournament being disrupted by inclement weather.”