Former England captain and current football pundit Wayne Rooney has publicly criticized the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) decision to award Morocco the hosting rights for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Rooney made the comments in his role as a columnist for The Times, stating the move appeared to be a "political decision."
The decision, announced in September 2023, came after CAF stripped Guinea of the hosting rights due to infrastructure concerns. Morocco was selected as the sole bidder for the 2025 tournament, with Algeria, Zambia, and a joint Nigeria-Benin bid having withdrawn.
Rooney's criticism centers on the perception that the award bypasses normal competitive bidding processes. He argued that such decisions should be based on sporting merit and preparedness, not geopolitical considerations. CAF has consistently stated that Morocco's bid met all technical requirements.
The 2025 tournament will mark Morocco's second time hosting AFCON, having previously staged the event in 1988. The controversy highlights ongoing debates about governance and transparency within international football bodies.
