Côte d'Ivoire Withdraws as U-20 AFCON 2025 Host, Leaving CAF in Crisis  

In an unexpected decision, Côte d'Ivoire has officially withdrawn from hosting the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), originally scheduled to take place from April 26 to May 18, 2025. The announcement, made late Tuesday, has left the Confederation of African Football (CAF) scrambling for a solution just months before the tournament's kickoff.  

The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) confirmed the withdrawal in a formal statement, citing a government decision to relinquish hosting duties. "The President of the Ivorian Football Federation and Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the U-20 AFCON, Yacine Idriss Diallo, confirms that the government has officially notified FIF of its decision to withdraw from hosting the tournament," the statement read.  

Following this directive, the FIF Executive Director promptly informed CAF Secretary General on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. The federation expressed gratitude to all stakeholders involved in the tournament’s planning and assured that CAF’s forthcoming decisions regarding the situation would be communicated in due course.  

This unexpected withdrawal comes after CAF had already conducted the tournament draw on February 13, 2025, at its headquarters in Cairo, Egypt. The draw had placed defending champions Morocco in Group B alongside Nigeria, Egypt, and South Africa, with a total of 13 teams set to compete for continental glory and four coveted qualification spots for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile 2025.  

With Côte d'Ivoire stepping down as host, CAF now faces the urgent challenge of finding an alternative venue capable of hosting the prestigious youth tournament on short notice. The situation raises concerns about the event’s logistics, team preparations, and overall feasibility, placing African football’s governing body under immense pressure to ensure a smooth resolution.