Nigeria Sports Minister Sunday Dare has urged the Football Federation to intensify its efforts in securing the bid to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.
Nigeria last hosted the tournament together with Ghana in the year 2000.
According to reports, the Sports Minister together with NFF President Amaju Pinnick has held multiple meetings to lobby officials of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and some Football Federation presidents on the continent in hosting the tournament.
The Minister is said to have had a meeting with CAF president Motsepe in what is believed to be a meeting by the government.
“It’s over 30 years that Nigeria hosted the Nations Cup all alone, the other was the cohosting with Ghana and so it is expected Nigeria will be in good position to get the hosting rights. The meetings went well and Nigeria is in good position to get it,” sources revealed.
“The opportunities in terms of economy and also facilities are enormous. The facelift of the National Stadium in Abuja and Lagos is going to be a big boost. Uyo hosted CAF Confederation Cup and it is also an advantage for the country. Nigeria, for now, is among the favorites, the source added.”
Nigeria have won the competition on three occasions with their last trophy at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa