AFCON 2025 TO BE HOSTED BY MOROCCO AFTER ALGERIA WITHDRAWS BID

Wed 27 September 2023:

OFFICIAL: Morocco will host the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations 🇲🇦 pic.twitter.com/DPAiNR3DPv

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 27, 2023

Guinea was stripped of hosting rights last year over concerns that the country is not ready to hold the tournament. Algeria previously hosted Afcon 1990, when it won its first continental title.

In a statement, Algeria’s FAF said the decision to withdraw was “motivated by a new approach to the football development strategy in Algeria”.

“The FAF will now focus its efforts on the reorganisation and revitalisation of football in Algeria, as it reiterates its unwavering commitment to the development of African football.”

“On this occasion, the FAF extends its sincere thanks to the great family of African football for the understanding of its decision which in no way signifies a disengagement of Algeria from the king of sport on the continent,” it added.

Morocco got 22 votes against Algeria’s 0 to win the AFCON 2025 bid. pic.twitter.com/R710jdWqKW

— Eric Njiru (@EricNjiiru) September 27, 2023

Algeria withdrawing its candidacy meant that football and geopolitical rival, neighbouring Morocco, was the strong favourite to be named as Guinea’s replacement, while Kenya-Uganda-Tanzania were named as the hosts for the 2027 edition, reports BBC Sport.

Amid severed diplomatic relations between Morocco and Algeria, the former withdrew from the African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Algeria earlier this year after the host nation refused to open its airspace to Morocco’s national team.

During the naming ceremony held yesterday in Cairo, Patrice Motsepe, CAF president, said: “The decision that was taken today was to focus on African unity, development and growth, in the context of those countries withdrawing.”

“A huge amount of money is being spent on Morocco for 2025. The bid from Morocco to host the World Cup is not just for Morocco, but for the whole of Africa,” he said.