Just In: Morocco officially win bid for AFCON 2025

FIFA World Cup semi-finalists Morocco are have been announced as hosts for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, this Wednesday September 26, at the CAF Executive committee in Egypt.

The continental giants will have beaten rivals Algeria (that later backed-out), South Africa, Zambia and Nigeria-Benin, who made a joint bid.

Apparently, CAF feels Morocco is the most suitable candidate for the coveted competition, having hosted successful global and continental tournaments in the recent past.

The Moroccans successfully organized the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup, which was won by European champions Real Madrid.

They also had a hugely triumphant Africa Women’s Cup of Nations in July 2022, which produced record attendance for women’s games on the continent.

It’s worth recalling that the WAFCON semi-final bout between Nigeria and Morocco had 45,562 attendees, the biggest in the history of women’s football in Africa.

Besides, Morocco brags six FIFA and CAF approved stadiums, including Mohammed VI Sports, IBN Batouta, Marrakech, FEZ, Grande Stade de Agadir and Mohammed V Stadium. Each stadium boasts training sites.

Morocco’s desire to host the 2030 World Cup could also spur CAF into awarding them the rights, as they would use the AFCON as a solid basis to out-bid the rest for the global showpiece.

The rights for the 2025 AFCON had initially been granted to Guinea but was later stripped off due to inadequate infrastructure and or facilities.