Football/ The AFCON 2025 and 2027 will respectively be held in Morocco and Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania
Morocco has been announced as the host for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon), with a joint East African bid from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania winning the rights to hold the 2027 tournament.
Guinea had initially been chosen for the 2025 Afcon but was later stripped of the hosting rights due to concerns about infrastructure and facilities.
Zambia and a joint Nigeria-Benin bid were also contenders for the 2025 tournament but withdrew their bids to support Morocco’s candidacy, with hopes that this move would enhance Africa’s chances of hosting the FIFA World Cup in the future.
Patrice Motsepe, the president of CAF (Confederation of African Football), emphasized that all the options for hosting both tournaments would have made Africa proud.
The decisions were based on the level of infrastructure offered by the bids, including facilities, accommodation, and healthcare facilities.
Motsepe stated that the focus was on African unity, development, and growth, highlighting the significant investment being made in Morocco for the 2025 tournament.
He also underlined that Morocco’s bid to host the World Cup was not just for Morocco but for the entire continent.
In a historic move, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania won the rights to host the 2027 Afcon, marking the first time that nations from the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) would organize the tournament since Ethiopia in 1976.
Motsepe expressed confidence in the organizing abilities of these countries, likening their expectations to those of European body UEFA and South American Confederation Conmebol.
The upcoming Afcon tournament is scheduled to take place in Ivory Coast from January 13 to February 11, 2024, with the draw set for October 12 in Abidjan.
The decisions on tournament hosting reflect CAF’s commitment to enhancing football in Africa while showcasing the continent’s capabilities on the global stage.
Source: bbc.com
