The president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Patrice Motsepe, has stated that the organization will respect the upcoming ruling from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding Morocco's hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). The statement comes amid a dispute after CAF stripped Morocco of the hosting rights in 2025, citing delays in preparations.
Morocco subsequently appealed the decision to CAS, the highest authority in international sports disputes. The Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) has argued that the withdrawal was unjustified and that preparations were on track.
Patrice Motsepe's comments, made during a press conference, emphasized CAF's commitment to following the legal process. "We will respect the decision of the CAS," he stated, according to verified reports from sports news agencies. The CAS hearing is expected to take place in the coming months.
The outcome of the appeal will determine whether Morocco regains the right to host the tournament or if CAF will proceed with its contingency plan, which reportedly involves inviting bids from other nations. The 2025 edition of the tournament was initially scheduled for June-July but was moved to a December 2025-January 2026 window.
