Gilbert Bawara, Secretary-General at the Prime Minister's Office of Cameroon, has publicly criticized the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to relocate the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). In a statement reported by local media, Bawara described the move as a "dark moment" for African football.
The 2025 tournament was originally scheduled to be held in Guinea but was stripped from the country in 2022 due to infrastructure and preparedness concerns. CAF subsequently opened a new bidding process. In September 2023, CAF announced that Morocco would host the 2025 finals, while a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda was awarded the 2027 tournament.
Bawara's criticism appears rooted in the perception that the decision-making process lacked transparency and fairness for other potential host nations. His comments reflect ongoing regional tensions within CAF regarding the allocation of major tournaments. The Confederation has not issued a public response to Bawara's specific remarks.
The next edition of the AFCON is scheduled for 2025 in Morocco. The most recent tournament was held in early 2024 in Ivory Coast.
