Nigeria’s semi-final exit at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) decision to deny the country a place among hosts of the 2027 tournament should not merely provoke outrage or online protests. They should force a moment of national reflection.

These events expose the weaknesses in Nigeria’s football administration, infrastructure planning, and continental influence that have been ignored for too long.

The Super Eagles’ defeat of 4–2 on penalties to host nation Morocco, after a goalless draw on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, was a disappointment for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. There were outbursts of emotion after the match, with some Nigerians directing their frustration at the officiating Ghanaian referee, which resulted in the mass reporting and temporary disabling of his Instagram page. The reactions show Nigerians’ passion for football, they also reveal a tendency to express frustration rather than confront systemic failure.

However, beneath the outrage over poor match management, there are people who rightly pointed out Morocco’s technical superiority in the Semi-Final clash. According to this school of thought, Super Eagles players did not display enough willingness to win the match, and it reflected in the result. This raises questions about the quality of footballing talents we have, and the depth of loyalty in the players available for selection.

As if to add insult to injury, CAF delivered another blow by awarding the hosting rights for the 2027 AFCON to East African countries – Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda – who presented a joint bid. Nigeria’s hopes to co-host the tournament with Benin Republic was dashed, prompting disappointment from a Federal Government delegation led by the Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh.

Instead of thinking of CAF’s decision as an injustice to Nigeria, the country must ask itself an uncomfortable question; “Has the country been truly positioned as a credible sporting destination in recent years?”

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Nigeria has hosted the AFCON only twice, in 1980 and co-hosting with Ghana in 2000. For decades, the country has failed to present a convincing case for hosting Africa’s biggest football tournament again, despite its huge population, football heritage, and economic potential. Meanwhile, other regions have moved ahead with deliberate investments in stadiums, transport systems, security frameworks, and event management capacity.

Nigeria, a three-time AFCON champion who won the trophy in 1980, 1994, and 2013, and remains one of Africa’s most influential football nations is yet to translate its influence on the pitch into leadership off the pitch. Hosting major tournaments today goes beyond football history or fan passion; it demands modern infrastructure, transparent governance, and consistent political will.

Public reactions following CAF’s announcement have been divided. While some Nigerians insist the country has more than enough human and financial resources to host the AFCON, others rightly point to the deplorable state of sports facilities nationwide. Many stadiums are either dilapidated, poorly maintained, or fail to meet international standards. But beyond stadiums, issues of road networks, power supply, accommodation, and security continue to weaken Nigeria’s reliability as a host nation.

Super Falcons striker, Asisat Oshoala added her voice to the debate, suggesting on X that Nigeria could explore a co-hosting arrangement with neighbouring countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Benin, or Togo. But even co-hosting requires a minimum level of readiness, which Nigeria must first demonstrate.

Similarly, a Nigerian football analyst, KDC Global, expressing himself in a video posted on facebook, said the country should strive to host the AFCON, suggesting it could be a way for the country to win the tournament. While Nigerian actor and comedian, Michael Amanesi, popularly known as MC Lively, among others also expressed frustration over the country’s inability to host the tournament.

As the 35th AFCON approaches its end, with Senegal and Morocco set to contest the final in Rabat and Nigeria facing Egypt in the third-place playoff in Casablanca, the bigger lesson remains clear – desire alone will not secure hosting rights, and individual footballing talent alone will not guarantee victory.

The loss to Morocco and the subsequent decision of CAF should serve as a wake-up call, no matter how painful it may be. Nigeria must move beyond occasional outrage and bids to a long-term, organized strategy for sports development. This includes renovating existing stadiums, building new multipurpose facilities, strengthening national leagues to discover talents, and protecting sports administration from political instability.

Until these basic issues are addressed, the question of when Nigeria will next win or host the AFCON will continue to be unanswered, and the country risks watching others seize opportunities that its size, history, and talent should naturally grasp.