A host nation for an upcoming youth Africa Cup of Nations has reportedly pulled out at the last minute, leaving the Confederation of African Football to scramble for a new host.
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According to Africasoccer.com, Ivory Coast has decided against hosting the youth continental showpiece just four weeks before the competition was set to kick off.
The West African nation, which hosted the senior tournament at the beginning of last year, was supposed to have the under-20 iteration start on 26 April 2025 and run until 18 May.
However, earlier this week, the Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) made it public that they would not be able to welcome the continent's best youth sides. The same report claims that the Ivorian government informed the FIF that they currently do not have the capacity to accommodate the sides.
Though it remains unknown why the home of the African champions cannot host the prestigious youth competition, it is alleged that logistical factors and a lack of finances were key contributors to the decision.
It leaves CAF trying to scramble for emergency hosts with four weeks left until the competition is set to commence. Morocco and South Africa were rumoured to be in contention to host initially, so they could be alternative venues.
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Delays related to infrastructure improvement led to this year's African Nations Championship (CHAN) being postponed, so adjourning the youth AFCON could also be a potential solution for the time being.
