The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially awarded the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title to Morocco, following its designation as the new host nation for the tournament. The unprecedented decision comes after Guinea was stripped of hosting rights in 2022 and the original 2025 host, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania consortium, could not meet commitments.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe announced the move, stating it was a "recognition of Morocco's infrastructure and organizational capabilities." The decision means the Moroccan national team will be crowned champion without playing the tournament, a first in the competition's history.
The ruling has drawn sharp criticism from figures within African football. Newly appointed Comoros coach Hubert Velud, 66, expressed deep concern, stating, "Today, the image of African football is destroyed. I'm afraid not much of it remains." Other coaches and pundits have labeled the move as damaging to the sport's credibility on the continent.
Analysts suggest the decision is linked to Morocco's strong bid for the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which it is co-hosting with Spain and Portugal. Awarding the AFCON title is seen by some as a political maneuver to bolster Morocco's standing ahead of the global tournament.
