Algeria Withdraws Bid to Host 2025 Africa Cup of Nations

According to local media relaying the publication of journalist Hafid Derradji, known to be close to the Algerian Football Federation, Algeria has withdrawn its candidacy. This withdrawal of the Algerian candidacy "surprises" within the CAF, assure sources consulted, recalling that the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) is scheduled to meet on Wednesday in Cairo to designate the host countries for the 2025 and 2027 Africa Cups.

Direct competitor of Morocco for CAN 2025 and Senegal for CAN 2027, Algeria has just appointed Walid Sadi as head of the Federation, replacing Djahid Zefizef who resigned. After his appointment, Walid Sadi met with President Abdelmadjid Tebboune who gave him the main guidelines, indicates a press release from the Algerian presidency, stressing that the new president of the Federation has for his part "presented his vision for the development and revival of Algerian football".

The decision to withdraw would have been announced after this meeting between the two officials. According to local media, this decision would aim at "a change of strategy" and to give time to the new team led by Walid Sadi to carry out structural reforms in order to "win the CAF competitions, wherever they take place".

According to a source consulted within the Moroccan delegation arrived in Cairo for the CAF committee meeting, quoted by Le Desk, the withdrawal of the Algerian candidacy will not be validated "as long as no official statement has been made by a leader, or on the side of the CAF". If the withdrawal of Algeria is confirmed, Morocco, the big favorite for the organization of CAN 2025 according to certain indiscretions, will be in competition with the joint candidacy of Nigeria and Benin, and that of Zambia.