Hicham Aït Menna, president of Moroccan football club Wydad Athletic Club (WAC), appeared on the RMC Sport program "Rothen s'enflamme" on Friday, March 20, 2026. He discussed the recent decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) regarding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
CAF's Executive Committee announced on March 18, 2026, that Morocco would be awarded the 2025 AFCON title. This decision came after the original host nation, Guinea, was stripped of hosting rights due to unpreparedness, and subsequent bids from other nations, including Algeria, did not meet CAF's requirements.
Aït Menna stated that Morocco's acquisition of the hosting rights was conducted "in full respect of the regulations." He emphasized the country's existing infrastructure and readiness, having recently hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The decision grants Morocco its second AFCON hosting duty, having previously hosted in 1988.
The awarding of the tournament to Morocco has been a subject of regional sporting and political discourse. Aït Menna's comments reflect the official stance supporting CAF's procedural decision. The 2025 tournament is scheduled for June and July of that year.
