ASABA – The race is on to find out which African country will host the 2025 Athletics World Championships.
The Confederation of African Athletics (CAA), which has just hosted the African Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, has revealed the names of six countries who are in the running.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) had decided the event will be held in Africa.
Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa are all potential hosts.
Now the Confederation of African Athletics has to decide which is the most suitable candidate.
With the African Championships are still fresh in the mind of athletes and officials, Nigeria could be one of the favourites for the 2025 event, though a lot could change in the next seven years.
Athletics Federation of Nigeria president Ibrahim Gusau insists Abuja will bid for the 2025 edition of the flagship IAAF event.
"The Abuja Stadium will be renovated not just for the event but to prepare athletes. It offers excellent traffic and road network complemented by standard hotels and hospitality facilities," Gusau said. "So by 2025, Nigeria will be ready to host the world."
One of Nigeria's problems was that although the Championships were successful it came at the end of a chaotic week in which numerous organisational problems emerged.
The arrival of athletes was sporadic with many stranded in Lagos before arrival in Asaba while there was a criticism of the state of the track itself.