CAF Announces Hosts for 2025 and 2027 AFCON Editions
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially unveiled the host countries for the upcoming editions of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).
In a recent announcement made on September 27, CAF revealed that Morocco has been selected as the host for the 2025 AFCON tournament.
This decision comes after Guinea, the initially designated host for AFCON 2025, lost the hosting rights in October 2022 due to inadequate infrastructure development.
Morocco Named Hosts for 2025 AFCON
Morocco emerged as the chosen host for the 2025 AFCON edition, having faced strong competition from other contenders.
Notably, Nigeria and Benin had submitted a joint bid, and Zambia also expressed interest in hosting the tournament. However, these countries voluntarily withdrew their bids in favor of Morocco before the voting process took place in Cairo, Egypt.
The decision to withdraw was motivated by their collective aspiration to see an African nation host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco is currently bidding alongside Spain and Portugal for the 2030 World Cup hosting rights, and the withdrawn bids for AFCON 2025 are seen as a show of support for Morocco’s World Cup ambitions.
Eastern Africa to Host 2027 AFCON
Two years following the 2025 AFCON, the prestigious football competition will be jointly hosted in Eastern Africa by three nations: Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania.
This collaborative effort marks the first time AFCON will be hosted by a trio of countries in the region. The decision to host AFCON 2027 in Eastern Africa reflects CAF’s commitment to promoting unity, development, and growth within the continent.
CAF President Emphasizes African Unity
Commenting on the choice of hosts for the upcoming AFCON editions, CAF President Patrice Motsepe emphasized the significance of African unity, development, and growth.
He noted the substantial investment being made in Morocco for the 2025 AFCON and underscored that Morocco’s bid to host the World Cup extends beyond the country itself—it aims to showcase the capability of the entire African continent to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
This collaborative spirit highlights the broader goals of showcasing Africa’s potential on the global stage.
2023 AFCON Set for Ivory Coast
It is important to note that the next edition of the AFCON tournament, scheduled for 2023, will be hosted by Ivory Coast.
The tournament is slated to take place from January 13 to February 11, 2024, and will serve as a precursor to the hosting responsibilities bestowed upon Morocco in 2025 and Eastern Africa in 2027.