In a surprising turn of events, Morocco has been chosen as the host nation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals, a decision that comes after Guinea was stripped of the hosting rights last year. Additionally, the rights for the 2027 tournament were awarded to a joint bid from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
However, it’s important to remember the controversy surrounding Morocco’s behavior during the 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals, where they faced Nigeria. Moroccan spectators in the stadium used lasers to distract Nigerian players during penalty shootouts, a move widely condemned for its unsportsmanlike conduct.
Morocco’s selection as the 2025 host came about due to the withdrawal of Algeria, Zambia, and a joint bid from Benin and Nigeria. This decision was made during the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee vote in Cairo.
Morocco, seen as a strong candidate, views this as a positive development, potentially boosting its chances of co-hosting the 2030 World Cup with Portugal and Spain. On the other hand, the surprise victory for the joint East African bid to host the 2027 tournament marks a return of the finals to the region for the first time since 1976.
While Kenya had previously been awarded the hosting in 1996 but lost it due to poor preparation, this time they hope to make it a successful event after overcoming FIFA bans for government interference in their football federation.
CAF President Patrice Motsepe emphasized the importance of spreading the tournament across different regions to promote football development.
For the 2025 finals, Morocco plans to utilize six stadiums in various cities, including Agadir, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakech, Rabat, and Tangier.
The history of hosting the Cup of Nations has been tumultuous over the last decade, with South Africa stepping in for Libya in 2013, Cameroon and Ivory Coast facing readiness issues, and postponements due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As Morocco prepares to host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, some concerns linger regarding their conduct on the international stage. The use of lasers during the 2022 Women’s AFCON has raised questions about their suitability as hosts. The footballing world will be watching closely to see if Morocco can meet the expectations and responsibilities that come with hosting a major tournament.
