The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the hosts of the 2025 and 2027 editions of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
As announced by the African football governing body earlier today, September 27, northern African giants, Morocco have been named the 2025 AFCON hosts.
Recall that AFCON 2025 was supposed to be hosted by Guinea but they lost the hosting rights in October 2022 due to poor infrastructural development.
Initially, Morocco faced stiff competition from a joint Nigeria-Benin bid and a bid from Zambia for the 2025 AFCON but the countries voluntarily withdrew for Morocco before the voting commenced in Cairo, Egypt earlier today.
The rival countries decided to withdraw due to their desire to see an African country host the 2030 FIFA World Cup which Morocco is bidding for alongside Spain and Portugal. They believe that Morocco would use the 2025 edition of AFCON to further prove to the world that they can co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Two years after the 2025 edition of AFCON, the prestigious football competition will be jointly hosted in Eastern Africa by three countries, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
After announcing the hosts for the 2025 and 2027 AFCON, CAF president, Patrice Motsepe said, “The decision that was taken today was to focus on African unity, development and growth, in the context of those countries withdrawing.
“A huge amount of money is being spent on Morocco for 2025. The bid from Morocco to host the World Cup is not just for Morocco, but for the whole of Africa.”
Note that the next edition of the tournament (2023 AFCON), will be hosted in Ivory Coast from 13 January until 11 February 2024.
