The Democratic Republic of Congo aims to host the Africa Cup of Nations in 2029. President Félix Tshisekedi announced this on Thursday during a press conference.
DRC Aims to Host AFCON 2029
Finishing fourth in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo intends to host AFCON 2029. During a briefing with the press on Thursday, February 22, President Félix Tshisekedi made this announcement.
“I aspire to submit the candidacy of the DRC to host the AFCON 2029 on Congolese soil. We have met the challenge of organizing the Francophonie Games,” stated Félix Tshisekedi.
This ambition was praised by Congolese football legend Herita Ilunga. “Despite urgent challenges such as aggression in the east, the ambition to host AFCON 2029 would offer significant opportunities on economic and social fronts. It could pave the way for a more promising future for the Congolese, while still keeping the country’s priorities in mind,” reacted the former footballer.
To achieve this goal, the DRC will need a minimum of six stadiums meeting international standards. The same goes for road and hotel infrastructure in the regions that will host the tournament. After a long absence from the African sports scene, the DRC made its comeback at AFCON 2023. The Leopards managed to reach the semifinals before being defeated by Ivory Coast, the host country.
This AFCON marked the revival of Congolese football. Hosting the Africa Cup of Nations in 2029 could encourage new investments in Congolese football, one of the strongholds of raw talent on the continent.
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