Confederation of African Football (CAF) President Patrice Motsepe has stated that no African country receives "preferential treatment" from the continental football body. This declaration follows CAF's decision to reinstate Morocco as the host of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after initially stripping the country of hosting rights.
The decision to return the tournament to Morocco was made by the CAF Executive Committee in September 2024. This reversed a prior move to award the 2025 finals to Guinea, which was deemed unprepared. CAF cited Morocco's existing world-class infrastructure and experience as key reasons for the reallocation.
Motsepe's comments appear aimed at addressing perceptions of bias. He emphasized that CAF's decisions are based on objective assessments of infrastructure, readiness, and the overall success of the tournament. The 2025 event will be the second time Morocco hosts the AFCON, having previously staged the competition in 1988.
The hosting situation for the 2027 AFCON remains unchanged, with a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda confirmed as the selected hosts. CAF maintains that its processes are designed to ensure the best possible conditions for the continent's premier football event.
