It now appears that plans for the South Africa Under 20 national team may have to change, as the host nation of the upcoming U20 Africa Cup of Nations has reportedly withdrawn from staging the tournament just a month before its scheduled start.
In a shock development, Ivory Coast has pulled out of hosting the U20 AFCON.
The youth competition was set to take place from 26 April to 18 May 2025, with 13 teams divided into three groups.
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South Africa's U20 side had been drawn in Group B, alongside Nigeria, Egypt, and Morocco.
However, the tournament's future is now in doubt following the Ivorian Football Federation's (FIF) unexpected announcement this week.
According to Sports News Africa, FIF issued a statement confirming their decision to withdraw:
"President Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of the FIF, President of COCAN U20 hereby informs you that, by official letter, the Government has notified the Ivorian Football Federation of the withdrawal of Côte d'Ivoire as host country of the U20 Africa Cup of Nations," the FIF said in a statement.
"In accordance with the instructions of the President of the FIF, the Executive Director transmitted this information to the Secretary General of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) this Tuesday, March 25, 2025."
CAF has yet to respond to the surprising development, and it remains unclear why Ivory Coast is withdrawing at such short notice.
With the announcement coming just a month before the tournament was due to begin, there are growing concerns that CAF will be racing against time to find a solution.
CAF may now be forced to explore alternative options, with reports suggesting that these could include postponing the tournament or awarding hosting rights to another African nation at short notice—provided a suitable country has the infrastructure and capacity to stage the event.
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By Lukhanyo Mtuta
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