Flying Eagles in Limbo as Ivory Coast Pulls Out of U20 AFCON Hosting

Nigeria’s U20 national team, the Flying Eagles, are facing a wave of uncertainty following Ivory Coast’s sudden withdrawal as hosts of the 2025 U20 Africa Cup of Nations AFCON. The decision, announced just 30 days before the tournament was due to begin, has thrown Nigeria’s preparation plans into disarray.

The Ivorian Football Federation FIF confirmed the withdrawal via an official statement to the Confederation of African Football CAF, citing a government directive that halted all ongoing preparations. Ivory Coast, initially unqualified, had gained automatic entry as hosts after being confirmed in December 2024.

CAF is now under pressure to find a new host at short notice, with Morocco already preparing to host the U17 AFCON emerging as a strong alternative due to its solid infrastructure. However, no official decision has been announced.

The move may also come at a cost for Ivory Coast, as CAF could impose sanctions, including exclusion from the next two editions of the U20 tournament.

For Nigeria, the impact is immediate. The Flying Eagles were scheduled to kick off their campaign against Egypt on April 30 in Korhogo, with further fixtures lined up against Morocco and South Africa. With no confirmed venue, travel logistics and tactical planning have been disrupted.

Currently in camp in Katsina under the support of the state government, the team remains focused on securing a semi-final finish, which guarantees a place at the 2025 FIFA U20 World Cup in Chile. As seven-time U20 AFCON champions, Nigeria will hope for swift action from CAF to stabilise the situation and allow the tournament to go ahead as planned.

Editorial

We are deeply concerned about the disruption caused by Ivory Coast’s late withdrawal from hosting the U20 AFCON. While internal national decisions must be respected, the timing and fallout from this decision are hugely damaging not just to Nigeria’s Flying Eagles, but to the entire competition.

This tournament is more than just a football event. It is a critical platform for developing talent, building exposure, and opening global doors for young African players. To have such a cornerstone event thrown into limbo a month before kickoff is both unacceptable and avoidable.

CAF must act decisively and transparently. Morocco, with its proven infrastructure and recent hosting pedigree, is a logical replacement. But indecision at this point only deepens the disruption. National teams, including our own, are locked in preparation mode, setting tactical plans, organising logistics, and psychologically preparing for a competition that may now not even take place on schedule.

For the Flying Eagles, this is more than a scheduling headache. It’s a blow to momentum. This generation of players has shown promise, ambition, and a hunger to reclaim Nigeria’s dominance at the youth level. They deserve stability and structure, not the chaos that now clouds their immediate future.

We urge CAF to protect the integrity of the competition and safeguard the dreams of these young athletes. Let this be a wake-up call on the need for stronger vetting processes, earlier infrastructure assessments, and contingency planning for host nations. African football deserves better and our youth, above all, deserve clarity and commitment.

Did You Know?

1. Nigeria has won the U20 AFCON a record seven times, most recently in 2015.
2. The FIFA U20 World Cup 2025 is scheduled to be hosted in Chile.
3. Morocco hosted the 2023 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and the 2023 U23 AFCON.
4. The Flying Eagles were semi-finalists at the 2023 U20 AFCON, securing a World Cup spot.
5. Ivory Coast last hosted the senior AFCON tournament in 1984 before returning as hosts again in 2024.