APA-Rabat (Morocco) – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has chosen Morocco to host the 35th edition of its flagship competition, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as co-hosts of the 2027 edition.
In 108 days’ time, the 34th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AfCON) will kick off in Cote d’Ivoire. The draw for the group phase of the tournament is scheduled for 12 October 2023 in Abidjan.
As usual, CAF has been looking for host countries for the upcoming tournaments.
Following the withdrawal of Algeria and Zambia, as well as Nigeria and Benin (joint bid), the confederation’s executive committee has set its sights on Morocco for the 2025 edition of the African Cup of Nations.
It will be the second time the kingdom has hosted the tournament since 1988, the Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) welcomed the “exciting news” and invited the African football world to join them for “an unforgettable tournament.”
According to CAF President Patrice Motsepe, the “main reason” for awarding Morocco the AfCON 2025 is to support the country’s bid to host the 2030 World Cup (along with Spain and Portugal).
”Our job is to ensure that Africa is united. We have taken the decision to give the 54 votes of the African continent to Morocco” he said.
Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania have won the right to host the 2027 tournament, beating Senegal, who had put in a bid.
The three East African countries have never had this honour in the past.
The last AfCON in this part of the continent was hosted by Ethiopia in 1976.
“That must have been a deciding factor. What’s more, Kenya and Uganda are very big countries. As for Tanzania, their football has made progress with their clubs. Senegal will have to learn from this failure,” said Mamadou Koumé, former president of the Senegalese National Sports Press Association (ANPS).
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