The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially opened the bidding process for the 2028, 2032 and 2036 editions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), giving Nigeria and 53 other member associations the opportunity to compete for the right to host the continent’s premier football competition.
The announcement signals the start of what is expected to be an intense continental contest, with countries now free to submit expressions of interest to stage one of the world’s biggest international football tournaments.
In a statement published on its official website, CAF said the bidding process is officially underway and invited all eligible member associations to participate.
The continental football governing body explained that the new bidding framework was developed with the support of independent experts to guarantee a transparent, fair and competitive selection process.
According to CAF, prospective host nations will be assessed on a broad range of criteria, including technical preparedness, infrastructure, operational capacity, commercial viability, security, logistics and their overall ability to successfully organise a world-class tournament.
The body added that the revised framework is part of its efforts to further elevate the Africa Cup of Nations and strengthen its global appeal.
Nigeria Gets Another Chance
Nigeria is among the countries eligible to bid for any of the three AFCON editions.
As one of Africa’s football powerhouses, Nigeria has successfully hosted the tournament in the past and boasts several stadiums capable of staging major international competitions.
However, a successful bid would require significant improvements in key areas, including sporting infrastructure, transportation networks, accommodation facilities, security arrangements and tournament logistics to fully satisfy CAF’s stringent hosting requirements.
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Should the Nigeria Football Federation and the National Sports Commission, with the backing of the Federal Government, decide to submit a bid, Nigeria will compete with other interested CAF member associations for the hosting rights.
With CAF raising the bar for future hosts, any Nigerian bid will depend not only on the country’s football pedigree but also on its ability to meet the organisation’s tougher standards for infrastructure, logistics and tournament delivery.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.