Confederation of African Football (CAF) president Patrice Motsepe has expressed strong confidence that Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) successfully, despite recent anti-government protests across the country.
The North African nation is set to stage the continent’s premier football tournament from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, featuring 24 national teams across nine venues.
Concerns have arisen over the tournament’s stability due to demonstrations, mainly by young Moroccans, who are protesting the government’s spending priorities.
Protesters argue that billions allocated to infrastructure projects, including building and renovating stadiums for the 2025 AFCON and the co-hosting of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, come at the expense of essential public services such as healthcare and education. Some have been chanting, “We want hospitals, not stadiums.”
Speaking at the CAF Congress in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Monday, Motsepe reaffirmed CAF’s commitment to Morocco as the host.
“We (CAF) are absolutely confident the AFCON will go ahead as planned. Morocco is plan A, Morocco is plan B, and Morocco is plan C. CAF will co-operate and work with the government and all the citizens of Morocco to host the most successful AFCON in history,” he said.
