North African giants Algeria and Morocco are keen on challenging Nigeria for the hosting rights of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) announced on Sunday it has withdrawn the hosting right of the competition from Guinea.
CAF took the decision due to the country’s lack of quality infrastructure and facilities to host the 24-team competition.
Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, stated earlier in July that his country and neighbours, Benin Republic were willing to stage Africa’s flagship soccer event.
But they now face stiff competition from the two North African giants.
Morocco are expected to submit a bid to host the competition in the coming days.
Algerian Minister of Youth and Sports, Abderrazak Sebgag told News Agency: “It’s time for Algeria to organise major events. We are going to present a good file to organise the Africa Cup of Nations 2025.”
Algerian Football Federation, Zefizef Djahid has already confirmed that his country will submit a bid to host the competition.
In the same vein, Algeria Football Federation boss Zefizef Djahid was quoted by Kingfut: “Algeria has all the capabilities to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.”
Algeria last hosted Afcon in 1990. There the Desert Foxes beat Nigeria in the final at Stade 5 Juillet 1962, Algiers.
The North Africans would be hoping to be counted worthy by the Confederation of African Football in the coming months.
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")