Nigeria’s Sports Minister in Egypt to Secure AFCON 2027 Hosting

Cairo, Egypt – In a bid to bring the prestigious African Cup of Nations (AFCON) to Nigerian shores, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, has touched down in Egypt accompanied by representatives from the Nigeria Football Federation. Their mission: to secure the hosting rights for AFCON 2027.

The appointment of Senator John Owan Enoh as the Minister of Sports Development by President Bola Tinubu on August 16 has signaled a new era of sports leadership in Nigeria. With a wealth of experience and a passion for promoting sports, Senator Enoh is set to champion Nigeria’s bid for AFCON 2027.

Taking to his official social media account, Enoh shared, “With representatives of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), I have arrived in Cairo, Egypt. We are here to attend the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Executive Committee meeting, as representatives of the Nigerian Government.”

Elaborating on the purpose of their visit, he added, “Our attendance is because Nigeria and the Benin Republic submitted a joint bid to host AFCON in 2027. Other Governments and Member Associations bidding to host AFCON in 2027 will also be in attendance.”

The bidding process for hosting AFCON 2027 has been rigorous, with each candidate nation subjected to assessment by the Independent Assessment Committees of CAF. These assessments include a 10-minute presentation followed by a 15-minute Q&A session. The results will be submitted for assessment and discussion by the CAF Executive Committee.

The crucial meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, 27th September 2023, and Nigeria, along with its partner, Benin Republic, is hopeful of a favorable outcome.

Nigeria’s history with hosting AFCON dates back to 1980 when the nation played host, and the Nigerian team, led by Christian Chukwu, emerged victorious in front of jubilant home fans, including former President Shehu Shagari. However, the joint hosting with Ghana in 2000 ended in disappointment as Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions clinched the trophy at the National Stadium in Lagos.